A veterinary surgeon is a JOINT-MASTER OF A FOXHUNT in Limerick, the Irish Field has this month revealed.
According to the 1st February report, entitled "Hunting: The great and the good", John Halley MRCVS is a joint-master of the County Limerick Foxhounds.
The Irish Field report - relating to a recent hunt involving 31 hounds chasing foxes - outlined that "joint-master John Halley from Fethard Veterinary was on a grey [horse]". It went on to say that "his guests on the day were no less distinguished, Charlie Appleby, who trained last year’s Derby winner, Masar" and that "John’s driver had a busy morning transporting six hunters from Fethard for the Halley entourage..."
Halley is listed on the Irish Veterinary Council website under Fethard Equine Hospital. http://www.vci.ie/Veterinary-Premises?id=959 His name also appears in an Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association index of Irish fox hunts.
The Irish Field went on to reveal that another vet was present at the hunt..."The Halley family were further represented by David MRCVS who is in the practice with his dad and Jack who runs the iconic Hayes’ Hotel Thurles".
During the hunt which started at Athlacca in County Limerick:
- Hounds "found in the nearby covert and the Limerick Orchestra [euphemism for the sound of the dogs howling] had the volume turned up full". At least one of the foxes in the covert was said to have been "halloaed away" to be chased by the pack; it is not clear what happened to any remaining foxes in the covert.
- Later, "as hounds were approaching the hunt covert, a hot pursuit began" across fields and farms.
- "Shortly after, hounds again found and ran by Boherard Cross over the Bruff/Croom road and finished in Peter Moloney’s outside farm in Crean where he was marked to ground." Marked to ground refers to when the pack of hounds congregate at the entrance to an earth or drain where the fox is trying to find refuge from the pack of dogs. Although not mentioned in this report, it is often followed by digging-out and terrierwork - i.e. hunters send terriers underground to attack and corner the unfortunate fox while they dig the earth away from above before pulling the squealing fox out and killing him.
As well as two vets in attendance at this shameful fox hunt, also present were ex-jockey Paul Carbery, international showjumper Paul Kennedy, Sir Francis Brooke (one of the Queen’s representatives who run Royal Ascot) and Sky Sports presenter Rachel Wyse and her husband Tim Gredley. He was on horseback while she "although a distinguished horsewoman, had chosen to remain on foot".
ACTION ALERTS
Urge the Veterinary Council of Ireland to act to stop veterinary involvement in bloodsports such as foxhunting and hare coursing.
Veterinary Council of Ireland
53 Lansdowne Road
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Tel: +353 (0) 1 668 4402
Email: info@vci.ie
Foxhunting is totally unacceptable in modern Ireland. Please join us in contacting the government and demanding a long overdue ban on foxhunting.
Contact the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and urge him to ban fox hunting.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/
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Contact the Agriculture Minister now and demand that an exemption for foxhunting is removed from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Michael Creed TD
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: michael.creed@oir.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcreedtd
Tweet to: @creedcnw
Appeal to all Irish politicians
Please join us in telling the Irish Government that it is now time to ban foxhunting. Contact all your local TDs and urge them to push for a ban on this blood sport. Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&disp=mem
Write to your TDs at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889. Please also arrange a meeting with your TDs at their local clinics.
Keep hunters off your land
If you are a landowner, make your land off-limits to hunters. Find out more about how to do this on our Farmers/Landowners Page - http://www.banbloodsports.com/farmers.htm Encourage all land-owning friends and family members in the countryside to show compassion and make their land a haven for wildlife. If hunters are denied access to land, the wildlife will be spared the suffering of cubhunting and foxhunting.