A hare who was pinned to the ground at a coursing meeting in Carlow was “given injection for shock”, recently released documents reveal.
The 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 County Carlow animal cruelty event (8 and 9 November 2025), 4 hares were hit by dogs and 2 were pinned to the ground.
According to a NPWS ranger report, one of these hares was “confirmed injured by vet” before being given the injection.
The coursing club vet’s report, which states that no hares were injured, shows that 0.2 ml of Metacam was administered to the hare in question. Metacam is an anti-inflammatory, pain-relief drug.
The vet - whose name has been redacted - answered yes to the question “did you certify hares fit to course?”
46 hares were captured from the wild between 7 September and 26 October 2025 for use as live lures for the dogs to chase at the event held at Kylemaglush, Fenagh, County Carlow.
The ranger went on to note that one greyhound was observed “without muzzle” and “uncollared (likely having slipped its collar) while following trial taking place”, adding that “hare escaped unharmed”.
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.
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
X: 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
X: 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
X: http://www.twitter.com/martinheydonfg
Please get in touch with all your local TDs and urge them to pledge support for a long overdue ban on cruel hare coursing in Ireland. 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. Tell them that you want hare coursing, fox hunting 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/
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