Skip to content or view mobile version

Home | Mobile | Editorial | Mission | Privacy | About | Contact | Help | Security | Support

A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

Latest FOI reports from Ireland's State Wildlife Service exposes hare coursing

Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports | 11.05.2012 14:55 | Animal Liberation | Ecology | Other Press | World

Latest FOI reports from NPWS reveal terror and suffering inflicted on hares at coursing events in eleven counties in Ireland. Irish animal protection groups are renewing our call for a total ban on live hare coursing following the latest series of shocking reports on coursing events compiled by State appointed wildlife rangers

Young hares at rest: these animals are targeted in coursing
Young hares at rest: these animals are targeted in coursing

Another hare comes to grief on an Irish coursing field
Another hare comes to grief on an Irish coursing field

Protesters call for a ban on hare coursing in Ireland
Protesters call for a ban on hare coursing in Ireland


Reports on hare coursing meetings in Ireland for the 2011/2012 season filed by wildlife rangers attached to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have just been received under FOI by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports and passed on to other animal protection groups including our own.
The reports refer to hares being struck, mauled, and horribly injured at coursing events held in eleven different counties.
We include (below) summaries of the reports, and extracts from them. The ranger’s report on the “Westmeath United” coursing event is especially graphic and hard-hitting, referring to a hare being “tossed and mauled”, another animal mauled on the ground by two dogs, another struck five times by the dogs, and the ranger refers to the distressed crying of a hare that has suffered injury.
Reports for other meetings tell a similar story of terror and suffering, related in factual, objective language.
CACS regards this new information as especially significant because it completely demolishes the case for coursing made by three Fine Gael government ministers who have repeatedly defended the practice. Their ludicrous claim that hares come to no harm in coursing and that the existing rules governing the “sport” protect the animals is completely blown away by this evidence.
Environment Minister Phil Hogan (who presented a trophy at one coursing event in February), Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan, and Junior Agriculture Minister Shane McEntee have repeatedly claimed that the hare faces no danger in coursing. Minister McEntee said he could see no problem whatsoever with the practice as, he opined, “the hare is never in any danger whatsoever”. Minister Hogan believes coursing is a “legitimate rural pursuit”, and Minister Deenihan recently assured the Irish Coursing Club that he would do everything in his power to support hare coursing.
We are challenging all TDs and Senators to examine, honesty and objectively, the latest reports which demonstrate very clearly that hares continue to be mauled, forcibly struck, and subjected to horrific injuries in coursing despite muzzling of the greyhounds. And this is apart altogether from the immense stress and suffering for the animals involved in capture (with nets), transportation, and confinement in unnatural captivity.
The government cannot dismiss the wildlife rangers’ reports as “anti blood sports propaganda” as the rangers are appointed by the State and are completely independent in their duties. The reports make it clear that the only way to eliminate cruelty from coursing is to take the hare out of it. A mechanical lure would recreate all the fun and excitement of the practice, minus the suffering of a timid and defenseless animal.
In the light of these revelations, we are calling on members of the Oireachtas to reject the government’s proposed exemption of hare coursing from prohibition under the new animal health and welfare bill. Far from exempting such a horrific practice with a proven track record of extreme and unnecessary animal cruelty, we believe it should be comprehensively banned under the Act, as it has been in Britain, Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and indeed most of the countries that once permitted it.
Incidents of the kind referred to in the NPWS reports were filmed at the so-called “Irish Cup” hare coursing event at Limerick racecourse last February. That event was sponsored by multi-millionaire businessman JP McManus:
 http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL741E0B6DA3CBB057

Following are summaries of the FOI reports re the relevant hare coursing events, and extracts from them, courtesy of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports:
Ennis/Clarecastle, December 10/11, 2011
According to ranger’s report, on day one, five hares were hit, with three dying
in the escape after coursing. On day two, seven hares were hit, two killed, four
injured, one put down and two died from injuries. This amounts to a total of
eight fatalities.

Gorey, Co. Wexford, 29/30 October, 2011
Over the two days of coursing sixteen hares were hit by dogs, with nine pinned
and seven dying of their injuries, according to NPWS ranger’s report.


Listowel, Co. Kerry, Oct 12/13, 2011
Seven hares hit by greyhounds, three killed, three injured and two put down because of
injuries, plus one died in coursing compound. A total of seven fatalities.

Millstreet, Co. Cork, December 30/31, 2012
Three hares were hit by dogs, three hares were dead at end of coursing. Ranger
noted that “a number of hares (at least three, probably more) had
conjunctivitis, as confirmed by Vet. At least nine hares had foot injuries.”

Murrintown, Wexford, 26/27 December, 2011
Ranger reported six hares hit by muzzled dogs on Day two, with six injured and
two killed. Meanwhile veterinary report cited twelve hares unfit for coursing,
four hares injured and sixteen “sick or otherwise unfit” after coursing.
According to this coursing club’s Hare Capture Return, eighty-six hares were
captured for coursing. However a figure of seventy-five was cited at the start of
coursing on day one, leaving a discrepancy of eleven hares. In a memo from the
ranger to his superior, he cited that the club informed him that they
had a “break in on their hare paddock” and that “eight hares were missing
and three killed”.

Tradaree, Co. Clare November 12/13, 2011, 2011
On day one, two hares were hit and one killed. On day two, ranger noted that four
hares had died overnight and one after coursing. Vet’s report stated that
nine hares were “unfit for coursing, one injured and one unfit after coursing.

Thurles & District, Co. Tipperary, 29/30, October, 2011
Ten hares hit over the two days, two hares killed, two injured and two died
overnight in coursing compound.

Kilflynn, Co. Kerry, October 1 & 2, 2011
Twleve hares hit by dogs, three hares killed, three died of “natural causes”, one
injured and one put down because of injuries.

Sevenhouses, Co. Kilkenny, January 14/15
Twelve hares hit by muzzled dogs, one killed, four injured and one put down because
of injuries.

Lixnaw, Co. Kerry, November 4/5/6, 2011
Two hares hit by greyhounds, one killed and one died of “natural causes”.


Parksgrove, North Kilkenny, December 26/27, 2011
Thirteen hares hit by muzzled dogs, two killed two put down because of injuries,
with two “escaped”.

Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, November 5/6, 2011
Seven hares hit by dogs, three injured and two put down as a result of their
injuries, plus one found dead in escape.

Abbeydorney, Co. Kerry, October 22/23, 2011
Six hares hit by greyhounds, one killed.

Limerick City, November 5/6, 2011
Ten hares struck by greyhounds, with four injured and one put down because of
injuries, one “escaped”.

Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, November 26/27, 2011
Seven hares struck by greyhounds with three injured.

Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, November 26/27, 2011
Nine hares hit, one injured, according to NPWS ranger, with vet’s report
stating that two hares were injured and two “sick or otherwise unfit” after
coursing, and ICC control steward stating that one died of natural causes,
and one injured hare released.

Westmeath United, October 15/16, 2011
Ranger described coursing as follows: “There were nine hares hit on Day one.
Of these, one hare was tossed and rolled on the ground; another hare was
tossed and mauled; another was mauled on the ground by the two dogs and
placed in a wooden box; another was hit about five times and mauled on
the ground by the dogs. When the dog owners came running in, one of them
grabbed the hare and lifted it away from the dogs by its side and then
the steward took it from him and handled it in a more appropriate
manner. The hare cried with what I presume was distress during this
incident. The steward placed this hare in the wooden box. Another hare
was tossed and badly mauled by the dogs later in the day. In all, three hit
hares were retrieved and placed in a wooden box”. The box was subsequently
taken away by the vet, who stated in his report that one died and two were
released.

Fermoy, Co. Cork, October 19/20, 2011
Six hares hit by muzzled dogs, one injured and one put down because of
injuries, with the ranger being informed that a hare was found dead the
morning after in the escape. Vet’s report stated that five hares were
injured (four more than ranger stated) with one hare euthanised.

Ballyduff, Co. Kerry, November 18/19, 2011
Four hares hit by dogs, and one died of “natural causes”.

Ballyheighue, Co. Kerry, October 14/15/16, 2011
Ranger didn’t attend on Day one. Four hares struck over two days, with one hare
killed and one dying of “natural causes”.

Limerick Regional, Clarina, October 15/16, 2012
Fifteen hares hit by dogs, five “pinned” and ten “tipped”, five injured and two died
of injuries. Ranger stated that a post mortem was sought on the hares
that died, with his line manager requesting via a note on the form the
findings of the post mortem, stating “I presume it was internal injuries
rather than muzzles coming off?” Ranger noted “Yes – muzzles did not
come off.”

Ballinaboola, New Ross, Co. Wexford, October 8/9, 2011
Fourteen hares hit by dogs, fourteen hares injured, one killed and one died from
injuries.

Loughrea, Co. Galway, October 22/23, 2011
Fourteen hares hit by muzzled dogs, with three put down because of injuries. It
was noted that three hares were “unaccounted for” on release.

Glin, Co. Limerick, October 7/8/9, 2011
Ranger stated that two hares were killed.

Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, December 17/18, 2011
Four hares hit by muzzled dogs.

Mallow, Co. Cork, October 22/23, 2011
Nine hares hit by muzzled dogs, and one “escaped” from paddock.

Galway & Oranmore, Nov 10 & 11, 2011
Ten hares hit, four pinned.

Charleville, Co. Cork, Oct 29/30,2011
Five hares hit. It was stated that no vet was present, but on call, while
the ICC control steward said there was veterinary involvement. The vet
completed a veterinary report, despite not being present.

Castleisland, Co.Kerry, October 30/31, 2011
One hare hit by muzzled dogs.

Castletown-Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath, December 17/18, 2011
Six hares hit by muzzled dogs, with one “bad grazing”. Vet stated two hares
were injured.

East Donegal, December 3 and 4, 2011
Ranger stated one hare hit, one injured and died from injury.

***

Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports

Upcoming Coverage
View and post events
Upcoming Events UK
24th October, London: 2015 London Anarchist Bookfair
2nd - 8th November: Wrexham, Wales, UK & Everywhere: Week of Action Against the North Wales Prison & the Prison Industrial Complex. Cymraeg: Wythnos o Weithredu yn Erbyn Carchar Gogledd Cymru

Ongoing UK
Every Tuesday 6pm-8pm, Yorkshire: Demo/vigil at NSA/NRO Menwith Hill US Spy Base More info: CAAB.

Every Tuesday, UK & worldwide: Counter Terror Tuesdays. Call the US Embassy nearest to you to protest Obama's Terror Tuesdays. More info here

Every day, London: Vigil for Julian Assange outside Ecuadorian Embassy

Parliament Sq Protest: see topic page
Ongoing Global
Rossport, Ireland: see topic page
Israel-Palestine: Israel Indymedia | Palestine Indymedia
Oaxaca: Chiapas Indymedia
Regions
All Regions
Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World
Other Local IMCs
Bristol/South West
Nottingham
Scotland
Social Media
You can follow @ukindymedia on indy.im and Twitter. We are working on a Twitter policy. We do not use Facebook, and advise you not to either.
Support Us
We need help paying the bills for hosting this site, please consider supporting us financially.
Other Media Projects
Schnews
Dissident Island Radio
Corporate Watch
Media Lens
VisionOnTV
Earth First! Action Update
Earth First! Action Reports
Topics
All Topics
Afghanistan
Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-Nuclear
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Fracking
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Policing
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista
Major Reports
NATO 2014
G8 2013
Workfare
2011 Census Resistance
Occupy Everywhere
August Riots
Dale Farm
J30 Strike
Flotilla to Gaza
Mayday 2010
Tar Sands
G20 London Summit
University Occupations for Gaza
Guantanamo
Indymedia Server Seizure
COP15 Climate Summit 2009
Carmel Agrexco
G8 Japan 2008
SHAC
Stop Sequani
Stop RWB
Climate Camp 2008
Oaxaca Uprising
Rossport Solidarity
Smash EDO
SOCPA
Past Major Reports
Encrypted Page
You are viewing this page using an encrypted connection. If you bookmark this page or send its address in an email you might want to use the un-encrypted address of this page.
If you recieved a warning about an untrusted root certificate please install the CAcert root certificate, for more information see the security page.

Global IMC Network


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech