Honour Tony Gregory with a ban on cruel hare coursing - read John Fitzgerald's Letter to the Editor in today's Sunday Independent...

Honour Tony with a ban on coursing
Sunday Independent, April 14th 2019

To mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Tony Gregory TD, a photographic exhibition on his life and work will open later this month in the heart of his former constituency.

This event will be a fitting and deserved accolade to a politician who worked vigorously for his constituents; who took a brave stand against evil drug pushers and, famously and controversially, signed the deal with Fianna Fail that secured a desperately needed multi-million pound investment for Dublin Central.

There is, though, another way to honour this tireless fighter for justice and equality: He was passionate about the plight of animals in Ireland, and in particular he campaigned, within and outside the Oireachtas, for a ban on the cruel practise of live hare coursing.

Many other politicians of all parties concurred with his stance, but when his Bill proposing the abolition of this blood sport came before the Dail in June 1993, the party whips were cracked and a measure that would have given protection to the long-suffering Irish Hare was defeated by 104 votes to 16.

TDs who had pledged opposition to hare coursing were corralled into voting down the Bill. I was in the public gallery and I noticed that many of them had their heads bowed and eyes averted, as they passed through the “Níl” lobby.

As a tribute to Tony Gregory on the tenth anniversary of his untimely death, I would appeal to all parties represented in the Dail to allow a FREE VOTE next time a Bill is tabled to ban hare coursing.

John Fitzgerald,
Callan, Co Kilkenny

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ICABS ACTION ALERT

With warnings from wildlife experts that the Irish Hare is in trouble, it is now more clear than ever that the species must be given FULL PROTECTION - no hare coursing, no hare hunting, no hare shooting. Urgently contact Minister Josepha Madigan and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and demand that they stop licensing coursing and end all forms of hare persecution.

Minister Josepha Madigan
Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht
Phone: +353 (0)1 631 3800
Email: josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie, ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie, wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie, john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie, Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie, nature.conservation@ahg.gov.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://facebook.com/JosephaMadiganFG
Tweet to: @josephamadigan

John Fitzgerald
Director, National Parks and Wildlife Service
Phone: +353 (0)1 888 3242
Email: john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie

SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below)

Dear Minister Madigan,

I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to demand that you stop licensing this cruel bloodsport.

In coursing, hares suffer and die at all stages - during the capture, during the time they are kept in captivity and during the coursing meetings where they run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries recorded are broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips.

I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and end this cruelty.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

[Name/Location]

The Irish Hare is a protected species but an exemption for coursing in the Animal Health and Welfare Act means coursers are not liable for prosecution for their cruelty. Join us in our call to the government to remove the exemption and provide full and permanent protection to this cherished species.

Contact An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and ask him to ban hare coursing and give permanent protection to hares.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/

Please contact all your local politicians and ask them to push for a ban on this blood sport. Encourage your friends, family and workmates to contact them too. Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&disp=mem Write to your TDs at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889. Please also arrange a meeting with your TDs at their local clinics.

Videos: Ireland's hare coursing cruelty

https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/videos/1492231004225786/
https://youtu.be/Z7X1S_Nng3I
https://youtu.be/Q7njqNGKyiI