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

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.