Voluntary first-aid medical services organisation, Order of Malta, is being urged to show compassion for Irish wildlife and end its association with the national hare coursing meeting in Clonmel.
The Order of Malta has a presence at the coursing finals in February to provide first aid to those getting their kicks from watching hares running for their lives. A past post on the Order of Malta's Facebook page showed the group's First Aid Station at the Powerstown Park venue alongside the message "Good week of duty over in Clonmel, with coursing and races".
The Order of Malta says it has nearly 4,000 members “volunteering their time to provide first-aid medical services at community and large national events”.
“Our overriding mission is to help the sick, the needy and the most disadvantaged in society,” it states.
In an email to the Order of Malta’s Dublin headquarters, ICABS has praised the organisation’s valuable work across the country but pointed out that volunteering at an animal cruelty event at which defenceless animals are forced to run for their lives is surely contrary to the Order of Malta’s ethos of compassion and alleviating suffering.
“The coursing meeting in Clonmel is the culmination of a season of animal cruelty,” we stated. “Every coursing season, hares are hit and mauled, resulting in painful injuries and deaths. Injuries include bruises, broken bones and dislocated hips. This is not the type of activity the Order of Malta should be associating with.”
ACTION ALERT
Urge the Order of Malta to stop providing volunteers to the national hare coursing meeting in Clonmel.
Order of Malta Ireland,
St John’s House,
32 Clyde Road,
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Tel: 01-6430000
Email: info@orderofmalta.ie,chancellery@orderofmalta.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrderofMaltaIRL
X: https://twitter.com/OrderofMaltaIRL
Video: Hare terrorised at Clonmel coursing cruelty festival