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Assault, intimidation and theft at Limerick hare coursing meeting
04 December 2015
On Saturday 28th November, Irish Council Against Blood Sports monitors were assaulted and had a video camera snatched by force at a meeting of Ardpatrick & Kilfinane hare coursing club at Bulgaden, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick. When they attempted to film the coursing cruelty from the public road outside the venue, they were threatened and intimidated by coursers, one of whom held a large stick.
Later when an ICABS observer was filming from a high bank on a private roadway, with permission from the landowner, she was rushed by a courser brandishing an umbrella in a threatening manner, chased to her car, where a struggle ensued, with the male courser demanding the camera, which he grabbed by force and fled.
Gardai were called to the scene, and later, the camera was handed in to the Garda station in nearby Bruff, minus the memory card containing footage of hares, used as live bait, running for their lives from greyhounds.
ICABS noted quite a number of instances of hares unable to access the so-called "escape area" - they were seen being hounded around the coursing field after the courses (race) were over, prolonging their terror and trauma. See our footage (filmed using a second camcorder).
Clearly, the coursers have a lot to hide and resorted to violence and theft to prevent film evidence of their barbaric cruelty emerging.
We contacted the National Parks & Wildlife Service (which is under the remit of Minister Heather Humphreys who licences the taking of hares from the wild for this barbarity) to report the plight of the hares at the Ardpatrick & Kilfinane’s coursing event. The cruel abuse continued the next day at the same venue.
It is clear that the myriad of conditions attached to the hare coursing licence are well-nigh unenforceable, with a serious lack of National Parks & Wildlife manpower available. In any event, no matter how many conditions and regulations are laid down, they will not mitigate the cruelty and terror for the hare, or the risk of hares being hit and mauled by the greyhounds. The only solution is a total ban on this thoroughly barbaric activity that is already banned in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
ACTION ALERTS
Demand that Minister Heather Humphreys withdraws the coursing licence she shamefully issued.
Email "Stop cruelty to Irish Hares. Withdraw the hare coursing licence" to Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie, ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie, taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, joan.burton@oireachtas.ie, wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie, Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie
Tel: (01) 631 3802 or (01) 631 3800
Leave a comment on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heather.humphreysfg
Tweet to Heather Humphreys: @HHumphreysFG
Tweet to @HHumphreysFG
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)
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Dear Minister,
I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to urge you to revoke the licence you issued to the Irish Coursing Club. In coursing, hares suffer at all stages - during the capture, during the time they are kept in captivity and during the coursing meetings where they run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries recorded are broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips. Every season, hare injuries and deaths are documented. I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and permanently revoke the licence. Thank you. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] |
Demand an immediate ban on hare coursing. Tell Minister Coveney to remove an exemption for hare coursing from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Simon Coveney, TD
Minister for Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonCoveney
Tweet to: @simoncoveney
Tweet to @simoncoveney
Urgently contact An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and ask him to ban hare coursing.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6194020
Fax: 01-6764048
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
Videos: Ireland's cruel hare coursing
Videos: Drag coursing, the humane alternative to hare coursing
ACTION ALERTS
Express your support for a ban on coursing. Sign and share petitions
Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing
Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Ban horrific hare coursing cruelty in Ireland
Stop sponsoring hare coursing in Ireland
Contact all your local TDs now. Demand that they urgently push for a ban on hare coursing and all bloodsports. Tell them you are one of the majority who want coursing banned. Remind them that coursing is already illegal in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of the electorate and back a ban.
Find out their contact details
Please also arrange a meeting with your TDs at their local clinics.
Make a donation to ICABS
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