Fine Gael Councillor Maurice Dockrell has restated his support for an end to cruel greyhound racing and hare coursing.
In a tweet on Friday (25 April 2025), the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Councillor stated: “I would like to see greyhound racing banned in Ireland along with hare coursing”.
https://x.com/MDockrel1/status/1915868927088853148
Cllr Dockrell previously called for an end to the two activities in 2022, stating at the time: "Animals are not for entertainment"
He is also in favour of a ban on horse racing, fox hunting and puppy farming.
He has in the past condemned horse and greyhound racing as “inherently cruel”.
“Racing of animals is completely unnecessary,” he stated.
In a 2021 statement he said he was also “highly critical of many forms of farming, especially intensive farming, including forms of slaughter done for religious reasons.”
Other Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Councillors who have expressed support for a ban on bloodsports, include:
Cllr Anne Colgan (Independent): “l favour a ban on hare coursing and fox hunting.”
Cllr Eva Dowling (Green Party): “I am completely and utterly against all forms of blood sports.”
Cllr Melissa Halpin (People Before Profit): “As a socialist I completely abhor animal cruelty and all blood sports”
Cllr Hugh Lewis (Independent): "I believe that all forms of cruelty to animals is unacceptable."
Cllr Peter O'Brien (Labour): "I fully support the banning of hare coursing and fox hunting. Putting an animal through undue stress and torture is not a form of entertainment and should be condemned by all."
Cllr John Hurley (Social Democrats) has called for an end to funding for greyhound racing.
Cllr Lettie McCarthy (Labour) is on record as saying: "I have the greatest respect for animals and oppose all cruelty."
ACTION ALERT
Urge Councillor Maurice Dockrell’s Fine Gael party colleagues in Dail Eireann to back Jennifer Whitmore TD’s upcoming Protection of Hares Bill which aims to bring coursing to an end.
Email Fine Gael TDs:
Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie; catherine.callaghan@oireachtas.ie; david.maxwell@oireachtas.ie; joe.cooney@oireachtas.ie; noel.mccarthy@oireachtas.ie; colm.burke@oireachtas.ie; johnpaul.oshea@oireachtas.ie; jerry.buttimer@oireachtas.ie; naoise.omuiri@oireachtas.ie; james.geoghegan@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; grace.boland@oireachtas.ie; emer.higgins@oireachtas.ie; maeve.oconnell@oireachtas.ie; neale.richmond@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; emer.currie@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie; barry.ward@oireachtas.ie; peter.roche@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; joe.neville@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; william.aird@oireachtas.ie; kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O'Donovan@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; micheal.carrigy@oireachtas.ie; paula.butterly@oireachtas.ie; alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie; keira.keogh@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; john.clendennen@oireachtas.ie; frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie; michael.murphy@oireachtas.ie; john.cummins@oireachtas.ie; edward.timmins@oireachtas.ie; brian.brennan@oireachtas.ie
Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to back a ban on hare coursing and fox hunting and stop supporting funding for dog-killing greyhound racing.
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Please sign and share the petitions
Sinn Fein: Support a ban on cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/sinn-fein-support-a-ban-on-cruel-hare-coursing
Ireland – Ban cruel hare coursing
http://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports