A hare who suffered a severe injury was euthanised by a vet following a 2-day coursing meeting held in Rathkeale, County Limerick.
Recently released documents published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (which disgracefully licenses the bloodsport on behalf of Heritage Minister James Browne) reveal that 48 hares were captured from the wild in Counties Kerry and Limerick for use as live lures for dogs to chase at the 2-day coursing meet on 22 and 23 November 2025.
According to a ranger’s report, on Day 1 of the animal cruelty event, 1 hare suffered a hit. This hare was not examined for injuries.
The ranger went on to say that “1 hare was euthanised on the day of the release” (following the conclusion of coursing on Day 2).
“The hare was brought to [REDACTED] attention at the second last release of the day,” the ranger stated. “The injury was severe and the hare unfit for release. [REDACTED] directed the Club to call the vet and on inspection by the vet, the hare was euthanised.”
The nature, or cause, of the severe injury was not revealed. It is unknown if this injured hare was the hare who was hit by a dog(s) the previous day.
The vet who destroyed the hare, and whose name has been redacted, had certified the 48 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
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
http://revolut.me/icabs