“The femur was visible outside and not attached to the foot of the hare”
“The femur was visible outside and not attached to the foot of the hare” - the horrendous state of an unfortunate hare who was in agony after a coursing meeting in Limerick.
The sickening details were obtained this week by Paul Murphy TD further to a Dáil Question to Heritage Minister James Browne.
Deputy Murphy asked for “the cause and nature of a severe injury suffered by a hare on day two of Rathkeale and Limerick city coursing meeting on 23 November 2025 which resulted in the hare being euthanised by a coursing club vet.”
Responding on behalf of Minister Browne, the Minister of State for Nature and Biodiversity stated: “The Rathkeale and Limerick City coursing meeting was monitored by the National Parks and Wildlife Service regional staff who have confirmed that one hare had to be put down by the vet as the femur was visible outside and not attached to the foot of the hare.”
Minister O'Sullivan added that “the cause of the injury is not known.”
This hare who suffered the agonising injury was among 48 hares captured from the wild for use as live lures for dogs to chase at the animal cruelty event.
Previously released documents published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (which disgracefully licenses the bloodsport on behalf of Minister James Browne) reveal that the hares were caught in nets in Counties Kerry and Limerick between 10th September and 12th November 2025. They were held in captivity for up to 75 days (more than 10 weeks).
According to a report by a NPWS ranger who was there to witness the terrorisation of the hares, one hare was hit by dogs on Day 1. 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]'s 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 second last release of the day was at 4:46pm somewhere in County Kerry. For how long had the hare with the detached leg bone been suffering?
It is unknown if this hare was the same hare who was hit by a dog or dogs the previous day.
The vet who destroyed the hare, and whose name has been redacted, had certified all 48 hares “fit to course”
Shame on this vet and shame on the Irish Government for allowing cruel hare coursing to continue despite majority support for a ban.
URGENT ACTION ALERT
Contact Heritage Minister James Browne and Minister of State for Nature Christopher O’Sullivan NOW. Urge them to show compassion, stand up for the persecuted Irish Hare and REFUSE 2026-27 licences for cruel coursing.
Minister James Browne (Fianna Fail, Wexford)
Tel: (01) 618 3094
Email: minister@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.browne.enniscorthy
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
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher_o_sullivan_td
Complain to the Veterinary Council of Ireland about veterinary involvement in hare coursing.
Leo Kearns
Interim CEO & Registrar
Veterinary Council of Ireland
Email: info@vci.ie
Tel: +353 (0) 1 668 4402
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