There is no excuse for hare coursing

On Feb 23 and 24, members of the Irish Council Against Blood sports attended part of the so-called “Irish Cup” live hare coursing event, which was held on Limerick racecourse.

They managed to film some of the action and the footage offers further proof, if such were needed, of the pain and terror inflicted on these gentle creatures for “sport”.

This footage, which can be viewed on the ICABS website banbloodsports.com bears out the content of reports filed for the 2011/12 coursing season by rangers of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) which detail many other such instances of hares being mauled or otherwise horribly injured in this medieval pastime.

Hare coursing, already banned in many jurisdictions, is a relic of a different, less animal welfare-conscious Ireland where such practices were deemed normal and acceptable. Today there is no excuse for such public exhibitions of recreational cruelty to animals.

John Fitzgerald

Campaign for the Abolition Of Cruel Sports

Callan

Co Kilkenny