Call for hunting ban as activists picket Stephen’s Day meets

Animal-rights activists called on the Government yesterday to ban all forms of hunting live animals.

The Association Of Hunt Saboteurs (AOHS) and BadgerWatch Ireland made the call after a major anti-hunt protest in Co Waterford.

Their activists also displayed ban fox-hunting banners from bridges over motorways around Dublin and Meath to highlight their calls.

Up to 40 members and supporters from both organisations targeted the Waterford Foxhounds annual St Stephen’s Day meet in Tramore town centre.

Protestors held placards and stood on the footpath outside a car park where hunt members were gathering for a pre-meet drink.

And for the first time, the hunt members did not pass the protestors on their way in to the car park.

They did however pass them on their way out. Gardaí blocked the town’s main road for almost 15 minutes to facilitate the hunt.

Speaking afterwards, AOHS campaign director, John Tierney, said he was disgusted by the amount of children taking part in the hunt.

“This does not teach children to respect animals,” he said.

And he said activists planned to make animal rights a major issue in the 2007 general election.

“It is time for our legislators to deal with the issue of bloodsports for once and for all,” he said.

“They must carry out the wishes of their electors who do not wish to have our wildlife abused and killed for entertainment.”

He accused hunt members of laying on “stage-managed displays” that fostered an “innocent image of their sordid activity”.

“Hunting with hounds is brutal activity. It exists solely for the pleasure and entertainment for those with a twisted attitude towards animals,” he said.

“Politicians will be told in no uncertain terms that they will find no support from the animal rights community if they fail to take on board our concerns about the treatment of animals.”

The Waterford Foxhounds was unavailable for comment yesterday.