A vet who shamefully certified 56 hares “fit to course” later euthanised one of them after the animal was caught and mauled into the ground by dogs during a coursing meeting.
Documents published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service – which disgracefully licenses the bloodsport on behalf of Heritage Minister James Browne - show that during the 2-day Clonmel, Kilsheelan and Mitchelstown animal cruelty event (8 and 9 November 2025), one hare was pinned to the ground by dogs and retrieved by coursers.
The coursing club’s vet euthanised the hare after examining the animal and confirming injury.
On a veterinary report form, the vet - whose name has been redacted - answered yes to the question “did you certify hares fit to course?”
The hare who was killed was among 56 captured from the wild between 23 August 2025 and 5 October 2025 for use as live lures for the dogs to chase.
Shame on the vet who certified the hares "fit to course". And shame on the Irish Government for allowing cruel coursing to continue, despite majority support for a ban.
ACTION ALERT
Complain to the Veterinary Council of Ireland about veterinary involvement in hare coursing and urge the Council to join calls for a ban on the bloodsport.
Niamh Muldoon, CEO
Veterinary Council of Ireland
53 Lansdowne Road
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 NY29
Tel: +353 (0) 1 668 4402
Email: niamh.muldoon@vci.ie
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 hare 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: 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
#Ireland #BanHareCoursing