Opponents of ‘barbaric’ field sports smeared as animal rights fascists

Friday, May 28, 2010

SEÁN McGovern’s letter (May 22) defending Deputy Mattie McGrath’s comments on animal rights activists typifies the perception that both he and Mr McGrath like to create by labelling anyone who opposes hunting or highlights the plight of the animals as animal rights fascists.

I’m sure I’m one of a significant number of people who find the concept of "legitimate field sports", more commonly recognised as abuse and suffering of defenceless animals, as a totally unacceptable and barbaric activity for any civilised society.

Mr McGovern further endeavours to imply that an anti-vivisection stance is associated with militants and violence.

Unfortunately in all organisations there are extreme elements who tarnish the very cause they seek to champion. Such elements are not unique to animal rights campaigners. When it comes to vivisection, I suggest Mr McGovern take note of one of the greatest pacifists in modern history, Mahatma Gandhi, who denounced this intolerably cruel practice when he observed: "I abhor vivisection with my whole soul. All the scientific discoveries stained with innocent blood I count as of no consequence."

Ger Brown
Castleredmond
Midleton
Co Cork

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, May 28, 2010