Two hares died from injuries at a coursing meeting in Kilkenny, recently released documents reveal.
The hares were among 42 captured under a licence granted by Heritage Minister James Browne and used as live bait for dogs to chase.
Documents, published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service – which disgracefully licenses the bloodsport on behalf of the Minister - show that during the 3-day Sevenhouses coursing meet:
• 1 hare was hit by dogs on Day 1
• 2 hares were caught and pinned to the ground by dogs on Day 2. These hares were examined for injuries by the coursing club’s vet.
• On Day 3, a hare was pinned to the ground. This hare “died from injuries”.
Another hare “died from injuries” at release, after suffering the coursing ordeal. The nature and cause of the injuries was not revealed. It is unknown if this hare was one of the hares hit or pinned as an identifying ear tag had been removed.
According to a veterinary report, the three hares who were pinned were given Loxicom (an anti-inflammatory drug for the alleviation of inflammation and pain).
The vet - whose name has been redacted - had shamefully certified the 42 hares “fit to course”.
Shame on the vet 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
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