A hare “died from injuries” suffered at a coursing meeting in County Clare, 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 3-day Milltown Malbay coursing meet on 24/25/26 October 2025, 4 hares were hit and 4 were pinned to the ground.
According to a ranger’s report, on Day 1 of the animal cruelty event, 3 hares were caught by dogs and pinned, 2 were examined for injuries, 1 hare was confirmed injured and “died from injuries”.
On day 3, 4 other hares were also hit. One was pinned and examined for injuries.
The vet - whose name has been redacted - answered yes to the question “did you certify hares fit to course?” and noted the injury and death of the hare.
The hare who died was among 64 hares captured in nets by the coursers between 6 September and 12 October 2025.
The NPWS ranger recorded in a report that “1 ear bleeding from tag removal”. This hare apparently did not receive veterinary treatment for the injury but instead was “treated by [coursing] club”.
Shame on the vet who certified the hares "fit to course". And shame on the Irish Government for allowing cruel hare 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