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10 hares suffered hits and 3 were pinned to the ground by dogs at the “Irish Cup” hare coursing meeting in February, newly released documents reveal.
The sickening details are contained in reports published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service – which disgracefully licenses the bloodsport on behalf of the Heritage Minister. They show that a NPWS conservation ranger (who was there to monitor the persecution of this supposedly protected species) noted that:
• On Day 1 of the 3-day animal cruelty event (21, 22, 23 February 2025) hosted by Limerick Racecourse, 5 hares suffered hits and 2 were caught by dogs and pinned to the ground. Just one was examined for injuries.
• On Day 2, 3 more hares were hit and 1 was pinned. The ranger stated that 3 of the hares were examined for injuries, while the veterinary report shows that jut 2 were examined.
• On Day 3, 2 hares were hit by dogs. Neither were examined for injuries.
These hares were among 71 captured from the wild in nets between 28 December and 9 February 2025 and held in captivity for up to 58 days.
See the documents at
https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/files/coursing-limerick-irish-cup-2024-2025.pdf
Shame on the vet who certified the hares “fit for coursing” before they were terrorised by the dogs, hit and mauled into the ground.
And shame on the Irish Government for allowing this cruel bloodsport to continue, despite majority support among the public for a ban. A 2019 RED C poll found that 77% want coursing banned (majority support for a ban in both rural and urban areas), with just 9% disagreeing with a ban. More recently, an April 2025 poll conducted by TheJournal.ie poll showed that 81.5% are in favour of a ban.
Due to the cruelty involved, coursing is already illegal in all our neighbouring jurisdictions (Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales).
ACTION ALERT
HELP THE HARES: Tell Heritage Minister James Browne and Minister of State for Nature Christopher O’Sullivan to give full protection to the Irish Hare and stop licensing cruel coursing.
Minister James Browne (Fianna Fail, Wexford)
Tel: (01) 618 3094
Email: minister@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.browne.enniscorthy
Twitter: https://x.com/jamesbrownetd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesbrownetd/?hl=en
Christopher O’Sullivan TD (Fianna Fail, Cork South West)
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity
Tel: (01) 618 3095 or 023 88 11011
Email: mos@housing.gov.ie; christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.osullivan.716
Twitter: https://twitter.com/COSullivanTD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher_o_sullivan_td
Urge Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon to remove exemptions for hare coursing and fox hunting from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Martin Heydon TD
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: 01-618 3017
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie; martin.heydon@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/martinheydonfg
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/martinheydonfg
Urge the Veterinary Council of Ireland to end vet involvement in hare coursing.
Niamh Muldoon
CEO, Veterinary Council of Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 1 668 4402
Email: niamh.muldoon@vci.ie
It is time for politicians to consign coursing and hunting to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to act to ensure that a ban is urgently introduced. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/34
Contact the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein and tell them that you want hare coursing and all bloodsports banned.
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: 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
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Witness the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntgYjH06czs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVIKc2CS4ko
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports