Tributes paid in Seanad Eireann to anti-bloodsports Senator, Jack Fitzsimons
03 December 2015

Tributes have been paid in Seanad Eireann to anti-bloodsports Senator, Jack Fitzsimons, who passed away in November last year. Jack was remembered as "a vocal opponent of hunting and hare coursing" and "a man of great principle and enormous political courage".

Jack was a Fianna Fáil senator from 1983 to 1989 and following his resignation from the party after the 1989 election, went on to become an independent member of Meath County Council.

He was a vocal opponent of bloodsports and wrote "Coursing Ban Be Damned" - a book in which he clearly showed that "coursing, hunting and all cruel practices are immoral and should be banned."

He ran as an independent candidate for the European elections in 1994 and his manifesto included strong anti-hunting and anti-coursing policies. An election flier outlined that one of his top priorities was to "abolish coursing and hunting". Presenting his vision for "a loving, caring, responsible, civilised society", he denounced the "power-crazy political parties who have systematically and selfishly destroyed almost everything worthwhile in this country".

Extracts from "Tributes to Former Senator Jack Fitzsimons"
Seanad Eireann, Wednesday, 18 November 2015

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael):
Following his time as a Senator, Jack stood in the local and European elections as an independent candidate on an anti-blood sport ticket, seeking a mandate for his view that hare coursing should be banned. He was elected to Meath County Council on that platform and worked tirelessly to highlight the plight of the hare in the Irish countryside. He organised a march from his native Kells to Dublin where he spoke to a large gathering outside Dáil Éireann about the need to protect the Irish hare. This spoke volumes of his devotion to the cause. In 1994 Jack published a book in which he made a powerful case against hare coursing, Coursing Ban Be Damned, continuing his whimsical and ironic humour in the titling of his works. He went on to back Deputy Tony Gregory's attempt to tackle hare coursing by means of a Private Member's Bill in 1993. Although the measure was voted down, it led to coursing clubs muzzling greyhounds from then on.

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail):
Today we pay tribute to a man of zealous political capability who was prepared to put his way of thinking on the line. He was an extremely principled man. When our Leader mentioned the issue of hare coursing, I recalled a story that Michael Lynch told me about canvassing with Jack in County Tipperary. They were on different panels, so they were not in direct competition with each other. Michael Lynch told me that he begged Jack to tone down his opinions on hare coursing in front of the Tipperary councillors, but he was simply not prepared to do so. He went to Tipperary with what would have been an unpopular viewpoint among Fianna Fáil councillors and refused to set aside the principles to which he was deeply committed. I think that is to be commended, because too often politicians are worried about what people want to hear. Jack certainly did not go with that. With Jack's passing, we have lost one of life's great gentlemen and most colourful characters. We have lost a man of distinction and immense ability. Jack's political life reminds the rest of us who are so lucky and privileged to be elected to these Houses that we must not always follow the herd instinct. We must stand up for what we believe in and, in some cases, disregard our own political ambitions and aspirations for the greater good. Jack was bold, brave and courageous in all facets of his political and personal functions.

Ivana Bacik (Independent):
As we have heard, Jack was also well known for his views as a vocal opponent of hunting and hare coursing and his resolutely principled stance on those issues. As others have said, he also took a principled and independently minded stance with his resignation from Fianna Fáil in 1989 on the grounds that there was, apparently, no ideology, consistency or positive approach within the party at the time.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail):
He was a bitter opponent of Mr. Charles Haughey and, as Senator Byrne noted, he was a man of great principle and enormous political courage. I remember he took the position against hare coursing at a number of parliamentary party meetings during my time here when there would have been a very powerful hare coursing lobby. Senator Byrne was correct in his description of the anecdote involving Senators Lynch and Fitzsimons and the Tipperary councillors. I remember canvassing at the time and being asked straight out my position and that of Senator Fitzsimons. I regret to say that my opinion now is the same as my opinion then. He lost his Seanad seat directly as a result of the position he took on hare coursing within the Fianna Fáil group. He was certainly one of the most effective Senators, as has been outlined.

Sean Barrett (Independent):
His opposition to hunting and hare coursing would fit with the opinions of many today, and he had the courage to do it, as Senators Mooney and Byrne stated, even in the heart of coursing territory, such as Tipperary. He was a man of principle.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail):
Earlier Senators spoke of his dedication and principled stand. No doubt not relinquishing his principles in the area of hare coursing probably cost him his seat. Having canvassed in places such as Waterford and Tipperary, and, indeed, Kerry and parts of Cork, I am aware that it is nearly a crime to mention anything about those involved in hare coursing, who are a powerful and strong lobby. As Leas-Chathaoirleach, I am honoured to pay tribute to Jack today.

You can read the full transcript at https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2015-11-18a.75&s=hare+coursing#g77

Death of anti-bloodsports politician Jack Fitzsimons
19 November 2014

The death has occurred of former senator, architect and anti-bloodsports campaigner Jack Fitzsimons.

Jack was a Fianna Fáil senator from 1983 to 1989 and following his resignation from the party after the '89 election, went on to become an independent member of Meath County Council.

He was a vocal opponent of bloodsports and wrote "Coursing Ban Be Damned" - a book in which he clearly showed that "coursing, hunting and all cruel practices are immoral and should be banned."

He ran as an independent candidate for the European elections in 1994 and his manifesto included strong anti-hunting and anti-coursing policies. An election flier outlined that one of his top priorities was to "abolish coursing and hunting".

Presenting his vision for "a loving, caring, responsible, civilised society", he denounced the "power-crazy political parties who have systematically and selfishly destroyed almost everything worthwhile in this country".

Paying tribute to Jack, John Fitzgerald of the Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports wrote: "I knew Jack when he was involved in the campaign to ban the horrific 'sport' of live hare coursing...an honest and brave politician, who did what he believed was RIGHT, as distinct from what was politically expedient."

Jack died on 4 November 2014, aged 84. He is survived by his wife Ann and five children.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

Videos: Cruel coursing and hunting - "immoral and should be banned"

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