Coillte defends its hosting of barbarism

Coillte defends its hosting of barbarism
02 October 2014

Coillte is defending its shameful decision to allow cruel hunters into its forests to terrorise and brutally kill foxes.

Responding to an Irish Council Against Blood Sports appeal for the forest wildlife to be spared the suffering, a company spokesperson said "Coillte aims to ensure that our forests are enjoyed by as many people as possible for legitimate and legal activities."

In response to an ICABS email in which we detailed the horrendous cruelty involved in foxhunting, Coillte's "Deer, Game and Sporting Rights Manager" Barry Coad had this to say: "Hunting and other field sports are among the oldest forms of forest pursuits in Ireland which continue to be legally enjoyed by many people across the country today."

ICABS drew the company's attention to cubhunting activities in a Coillte forest and pointed out that fox cubs are brutally attacked and torn apart when foxhunting hounds are brought to fox earths for grisly blooding sessions. During the foxhunting season, hunters in Coillte forests pursue foxes with hounds. When foxes are caught during a hunt, they are torn asunder.

But these accounts of cruelty were not addressed by Coillte. Instead, Mr Coad referred to fox hunting as a "traditional, legal and long established pursuit" and said that Coillte allows it in "areas where it was continually undertaken prior to the formation of the company".

"It is very disappointing that Coillte is continuing to consider it appropriate to allow foxhunters in to its property - individuals involved in some of the most obscene acts of cruelty to animals," ICABS stated in reply.

"How can Coillte justify opening its doors to those who cause such appalling suffering and death to wildlife. It is indeed sad that Coillte continues to hide behind the 'legitimate and legal activities' line when your company is aware of the cruelty and suffering involved and refuses to take the opportunity to reject it," we added.

ICABS does not accept that Coillte is in any way obliged to allow foxhunters on to its property in cases where a previous tradition of them hunting in the forest exists. This arrangement is a Coillte courtesy to accommodate cruelty.

With Coillte owned by the Irish people and with most Irish people opposed to animal cruelty, it is time for Coillte to show compassion for wildlife and put in place a ban on foxhunting on its property.

ACTION ALERTS

Sign our petition: Coillte - Stop allowing hunters into Moyode Wood

Please join us in urging Coillte to hear the cries of the foxes and make all its forests off-limits to foxhunters.

Gerard Britchfield
Acting CEO, Coillte
Dublin Road,
Newtownmountkennedy,
Co. Wicklow
Tel: +353 (0)1 2011111
Email: pr@coillte.ie
[pr@coillte.ie,info@coillte.ie,Gerard.Britchfield@coillte.ie,Mick.Donnellan@coillte.ie,Barry.Coad@coillte.ie]

Tweet to @CoillteOutdoors

SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below)

Dear Mr Britchfield, I am writing to urge you to stop allowing hunters access to Coillte property in Galway and around Ireland. It is entirely unacceptable for Coillte to disregard the appalling suffering being caused to wildlife in your forests. Respect the wishes of the majority who want foxhunting outlawed and make all of your property off-limits to foxhunters. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location]

Coillte urged to bar hunters from Galway wood
25 August 2014

ICABS has renewed an appeal to Coillte to stop allowing hunters to terrorise wildlife in its forests. The call follows reports that wildlife is again being targeted in a County Galway wood.

It is understood that hunters and hounds have been in Moyode Forest in Craughwell for the past three weeks. The early morning outings are likely to involve cub hunting. Typically carried out ahead of the main hunting season, cub hunting sees hunters bringing inexperienced foxhounds to fox earths and training them to attack, chase and kill young foxes.

Despite being aware of the appalling cruelty of cub hunting and foxhunting, Coillte has continued to allow access to foxhunters.

A Coillte representative has previously confirmed to ICABS that foxhunters "have permission from Coillte to use Moyode wood as well as a number of other properties owned by Coillte in the vicinity for hunting purposes in line with traditional usage."

The young foxes of Moyode Wood are likely to have suffered an appalling fate this month -scared out of their earths by hunters and bitten, mauled and torn apart by hounds. It is entirely unacceptable for Coillte to disregard this suffering being caused to woodland wildlife.

A fox desperately running for its life in a Coillte forest as a pack of foxhounds close in for the kill.

ACTION ALERTS

Sign our petition: Coillte - Stop allowing hunters into Moyode Wood

Please join us in urging Coillte to stop allowing hunters into Moyode Wood.

Tweet to @CoillteOutdoors

SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below)

Dear Mr Britchfield, I am writing to urge you to stop allowing hunters access to Moyode Wood and other Coillte properties in Galway and around Ireland. It is entirely unacceptable for Coillte to disregard the appalling suffering being caused to wildlife in your forests. Respect the wishes of the majority who want foxhunting outlawed and make all of your property off-limits to foxhunters. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location]

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