Cruel coursing - hares “terrorised by dogs for the sole purpose of sadistic entertainment” - Read Chris Fitzpatrick’s letter in today’s Irish Times and please scroll down for action alert...
In defence of the hare
Letters, The Irish Times, 21 May 2025
Sir, – Joan Burgess has written a powerfully eloquent letter calling for a ban on hare coursing (Letters, May 20th).
In the interest of balance, therefore, I would like to hear Taoiseach Michéal Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan explain the Government’s politico-socio-cultural-philosophical rationale for continuing to allow Ireland’s “oldest living mammal” to be terrorised by dogs for the sole purpose of sadistic entertainment.
I suspect, however, the Government, will just go to ground on this one (yet again) – a successful ruse used by hares in the wild to avoid attack (but, sadly, not available to hares being chased by coursing dogs). – Yours, etc,
CHRIS FITZPATRICK,
Dublin 6
SEE ALSO
Cruel and barbaric hare coursing should be banned immediately - Read Joan Burgess's letter in the Irish Times
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/05/20/letter-cruel-and-barbaric-hare-coursing-should-be-banned-immediately/
ACTION ALERT
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 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
Twitter: 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
Twitter: 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
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/martinheydonfg
It is time for politicians to consign coursing and hunting to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to act to ensure that a ban is urgently introduced. 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 and tell them that you want hare coursing 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/
Twitter: 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
Twitter: 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
Sign and share our “Ban Blood Sports in Ireland” petition
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports