The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is urging Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to act to stop cruel hare coursing from continuing during the COVID-19 Level 5 nationwide lockdown and eliminate the public health risk posed by large gatherings of bloodsport enthusiasts.
Brought to the Minister’s attention is a notice on the Irish Coursing Club website, headed “Level 5 restrictions and implications for coursing“ which maintains that, despite the raft of new restrictions being imposed on citizens from midnight on Wednesday, “coursing will continue to operate similar to other sporting organisations and other elite sports".
It is laughable that coursers are aligning themselves with “other sporting organisations and other elite sports", given the fact that hare coursing is in no way sporting or a sport but rather a form of animal cruelty that a majority want outlawed. Regardless, there is no mention of coursing in the list of activities exempted under the Level 5 restrictions https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/
The continuation of coursing is in direct conflict with the restrictions which state: "Organised outdoor gatherings - these are controlled environments with a named event organiser, owner or manager. For example: outdoor Arts events, training events. No organised outdoor gatherings should take place."
Minister Donnelly has been told that despite operating “behind closed doors” with no spectators, the reality is that crowds are congregating in coursing fields to watch hares running for their lives. Two people are permitted entry with each greyhound, meaning that around 150 people (not including organisers) are allowed to be in attendance at each meeting.
For example, at Liscannor coursing meeting in Clare on 10/11 October, over 144 people were permitted to attend. On the first day of the Abbeydorney meet in County Kerry last Friday, 74 greyhounds were listed, meaning as many as 148 people could be in attendance. A long line of vehicles could be seen parked bumper to bumper inside the coursing field.
At Ennis Clarecastle, 52 greyhounds were listed, with up to 104 or more people present. On the first day of the Westmeath United meeting last Saturday, 72 greyhounds were listed, with up to 144 or more people attending.
Despite growing worries about coronavirus and increasing infections and deaths, the coursers are shamefully determined not to let the pandemic get in their way. A published coursing fixtures list includes 65 1-, 2- and 3-day meetings around the country between now and the end of February. Several coursing meetings were brought forward to this week in an apparent attempt to get around expected Level 5 restrictions - a notice on the Irish Coursing Club website (now removed) had stated that there would be no coursing during Level 5.
In an appeal to Minister Donnelly and the government, ICABS pointed out that coursers coming together for their barbarism are breaching Level 5 restrictions by not only gathering in large numbers but also by travelling from county to county and exceeding the 5km domestic travel limit.
“In the interests of public safety and doing everything possible to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is imperative that you act to prevent coursing meets from going ahead,” we told Minister Donnelly, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar.
The government MUST NOT allow coursing to continue. It is completely reckless to give a free pass to coursers and it is making a mockery of public health guidelines. It is particularly unforgivable given the fact that a 77% majority of citizens want the bloodsport banned due to the inherent animal cruelty (Source: RED C poll).
Greyhound racing is also continuing. It has been exempted along with horse racing and Gaelic football, while businesses and services must close down, resulting in hardship for many citizens.
Find out more about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how you can protect yourself and your family at https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
ACTION ALERT
Contact Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and the Irish Government today and demand that hare coursing is stopped. If coursing is taking place in your area, contact the local Gardai and ask them to take action to stop the meeting - find contact details at https://www.garda.ie/en/Contact-Us/Station-Directory/
Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly
Tel: (01) 201 7300 or (01) 618 3041
Email: ministersoffice@health.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnellyforWicklow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DonnellyStephen
Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Contact Minister Darragh O’Brien and demand a withdrawal of the 2020-21 coursing licence.
Minister Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail, Dublin Fingal)
Tel: (01) 618 3802 OR (086) 251 9893
Email: darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; minister@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DarraghOBrienTD
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DarraghOBrienTD
77% want cruel hare coursing banned - Please support our new billboards fundraiser.
Donate now at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fund-ban-greyhound-racing-billboards