There is finally some respite for Ireland’s persecuted foxes as cruel foxhunting has been forced to stop under the current Level 5 COVID19 restrictions.
The restrictions, which have also halted hare coursing and pheasant shooting, mean nasty hunters are not allowed to chase foxes with packs of hounds and watch as they are torn apart when caught.
The development will be welcomed by the majority of Irish citizens who want the bloodsport outlawed. A RED C opinion poll carried out last year found that 77% want the government to ban foxhunting, while just 12% are in favour of it continuing..
A notice posted on the Countryside Alliance Ireland website outlines that “in line with Irish Masters of Foxhunting Association advise [sic], hunting and all fun rides are suspended.” The stoppage of hunting is not actually as a result of “advice” from the IMFHA but as a result of the government’s COVID19 nationwide restrictions which clearly state: “no organised outdoor gatherings should take place". They also limit domestic travel to 5km from home, meaning that hunters would not be able to come together from far and wide to indulge in their barbarity.
According to an unconfirmed report in the Irish Field, the planned opening meets of another season of foxhunting were “suspended for the duration of the Level 3 restrictions” which came into force at the beginning of October.
This contradicted a statement previously published on the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association website which maintained that hunting was to continue during Levels 1 to 4, i.e. “under the present guidance of Horse Sport Ireland and Sport Ireland, hunting is permitted to continue during Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the government’s 5-Level COVID framework, with restrictions. In all circumstances government guidelines supersede IMFHA protocols.”
Despite the increasing infections and deaths around the country, the hunters were shamefully intent on continuing throughout levels 1 to 4 and they drew up a list of “Protocols for Hunting During Covid-19”. There was no limit on the numbers that could join a hunt but it was suggested that hunters split up into “pods” of FIFTEEN people and, while in pursuit of foxes, to maintain a 10-metre distance between pods.
“In the event of hounds marking a fox to ground, the huntsman should mark to ground as briefly as possible and move on.” it adds. This refers to the moment a fox tries to find refuge underground and the hunt's terriermen are called in. They send their terriers down the hole to corner and attack the fox, while they dig the earth away to uncover the terrified and often injured fox. The fox is then pulled out and brutally killed.
The foxhunters' protocols emphasised that hunt meets “should be held in remote locations”.
“Hunting has the privilege of being allowed to continue under these protocols,” the IMFHA stated. “At all times we must be conscious and respectful of our communities who are all experiencing some form of restrictions or hardships due to COVID-19.”
Clearly aware of the backlash that photos and videos of hunting taking place during a pandemic would spark, hunters were advised not to publicise their activities online.
An IMFHA notice accompanying its “Protocols for Hunting During Covid-19” stressed that “social media postings of hunting activity should not be permitted by clubs”, adding “we are grateful to be able to hunt and cognisant that even in normal times it has the ability to attract social debate.” Members of hunts were also reminded to be “conscious of the public’s impression who may be restricted from their own activities while hunting is permitted.”
A report in the Irish Field in September, ridiculously claimed that the obscene bloodsport is an “important part of country life”. It detailed how the hunters are “looking forward to getting back on the hunting field” and farcically presented the activity, which involves unleashing a pack of dogs to chase down and rip foxes to bits, as “a symbol of normality in the countryside”.
The reality is that in 2020 Ireland, foxhunting is no longer acceptable and the vast majority of right-minded citizens view it as decidedly ABNORMAL to derive pleasure from causing terrified foxes to desperately run for dear life before being caught, eviscerated and torn limb from limb.
It’s time for the government to respect the wishes of the majority and act to stop foxhunting from resuming and work towards introducing a long overdue ban.
ACTION ALERT
If you are aware of any hunt activities - other than the exercising of hounds “with the minimum number of people required to manage the hounds” - please contact the local Gardai and ask them to take action - find contact details at https://www.garda.ie/en/Contact-Us/Station-Directory/
Tell politicians to respect the wishes of the majority and ban foxhunting. Contact the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Féin and the Labour Party to tell them that you want fox hunting and all bloodsports banned.
Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
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
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Eamon Ryan
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel: 067 34190
Email: alan.kelly@oir.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alankellylabour
Contact all your local TDs and urge them to push for a ban on foxhunting. Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=33&disp=mem
Email “I support a ban on cruel foxhunting and hare coursing” to all Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour Party TDs.
Fianna Fáil TDs
john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie; brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie; aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; michael.moynihan.td@oireachtas.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie; sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie; jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; jack@jackchambers.ie; anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie; eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie; james.lawless@oireachtas.ie; sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie; sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie; barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie; willie.odea@oireachtas.ie; niall.collins@oireachtas.ie; Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie; dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie; thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie; marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie; jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie; mary.butler@oireachtas.ie; james.browne@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.murnaneoconnor@oireachtas.ie; cathal.crowe@oireachtas.ie; james.oconnor@oireachtas.ie; padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; paul.mcauliffe@oireachtas.ie; john.lahart@oireachtas.ie; cormac@cormacdevlin.ie; normafoley1@eircom.net; joe.flaherty@oireachtas.ie; Stephen.Donnelly@oireachtas.ie
Fine Gael TDs
JohnPaul.Phelan@oireachtas.ie; Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie; joe.carey@oireachtas.ie; david.stanton@oir.ie; colm.burke@oireachtas.ie; michael.creed@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie; joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie; richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie; Eoghan.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie; emer.higgins@oireachtas.ie; neale.richmond@oireachtas.ie; josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie; Ciaran.Cannon@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; Brendan.Griffin@oireachtas.ie; bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie; kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O'Donovan@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie; alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie; michael.ring@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; damien.english@oireachtas.ie; frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie; paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie
Green Party TDs
Eamon.Ryan@greenparty.ie; catherine.martin@oireachtas.ie; patrick.costello@oireachtas.ie; francisnoel.duffy@oireachtas.ie; neasa.hourigan@oireachtas.ie; brian.leddin@oireachtas.ie; steven.matthews@oireachtas.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie; joe.obrien@oireachtas.ie; marc.ocathasaigh@oireachtas.ie; roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
ossian.smyth@greenparty.ie
Sinn Fein TDs
john.brady@oireachtas.ie; pat.buckley@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Crowe@oireachtas.ie; david.cullinane@oireachtas.ie; Pearse.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; dessie.ellis@oir.ie; kathleen.funchion@oireachtas.ie; martinkennysf@gmail.com; MaryLou.McDonald@oireachtas.ie; denise.mitchell@oireachtas.ie; imelda.munster@oireachtas.ie; eoin.obroin@oireachtas.ie; donnchadh.olaoghaire@oireachtas.ie; aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie; louiseoreillysf@gmail.com; maurice.quinlivan@oireachtas.ie; Brian.Stanley@oireachtas.ie; mark.ward@oireachtas.ie; chris.andrews@oireachtas.ie; martin.browne@oireachtas.ie; matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie; sorca.clarke@oireachtas.ie; roseconwaywalsh@eircom.net; reada.cronin@oireachtas.ie; pa.daly@oireachtas.ie; paul.donnelly@oireachtas.ie; mairead.farrell@oireachtas.ie; thomas.gould@oireachtas.ie; johnny.guirke@oireachtas.ie; claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie; padraig.maclochlainn@oir.ie; johnny.mythen@oireachtas.ie; ruairi.omurchu@oireachtas.ie; darren.orourke@oireachtas.ie; patriciaryan975@gmail.com; pauline.tully@oireachtas.ie; vwynne@gmail.com
Labour Party TDs
sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie,aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie,duncan.smith@oireachtas.ie,gerald.nash@oireachtas.ie,Alan.Kelly@oireachtas.ie,brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie
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
Witness the cruelty of foxhunting at
http://www.banbloodsports.com/videos.htm
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