Coillte is defending its shameful decision to allow cruel hunters into its forests to terrorise and brutally kill foxes. Responding to an Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) appeal for the forest wildlife to be spared the suffering, a company spokesperson said "Coillte aims to ensure that our forests are enjoyed by as many people as possible for legitimate and legal activities." In response to an ICABS email in which we detailed the horrendous cruelty involved in foxhunting, Coillte's "Deer, Game and Sporting Rights Manager" Barry Coad had this to say: "Hunting and other field sports are among the oldest forms of forest pursuits in Ireland which continue to be legally enjoyed by many people across the country today." ICABS drew the company's attention to cubhunting activities in a Coillte forest and pointed out that fox cubs are brutally attacked and torn apart when foxhunting hounds are brought to fox earths for grisly blooding sessions. During the foxhunting season, hunters in Coillte forests pursue foxes with hounds. When foxes are caught during a hunt, they are torn asunder. But these accounts of cruelty were not addressed by Coillte. Instead, Mr Coad referred to fox hunting as a "traditional, legal and long established pursuit" and said that Coillte allows it in "areas where it was continually undertaken prior to the formation of the company". "It is very disappointing that Coillte is continuing to consider it appropriate to allow foxhunters in to its property - individuals involved in some of the most obscene acts of cruelty to animals," ICABS stated in reply. "How can Coillte justify opening its doors to those who cause such appalling suffering and death to wildlife. It is indeed sad that Coillte continues to hide behind the 'legitimate and legal activities' line when your company is aware of the cruelty and suffering involved and refuses to take the opportunity to reject it," we added. ICABS does not accept that Coillte is in any way obliged to allow foxhunters on to its property in cases where a previous tradition of them hunting in the forest exists. This arrangement is a Coillte courtesy to accommodate cruelty. With Coillte owned by the Irish people and with most Irish people opposed to animal cruelty, it is time for Coillte to show compassion for wildlife and put in place a ban on foxhunting on its property. ACTION ALERT Please join us in urging Coillte to hear the cries of the foxes and make all its forests off-limits to foxhunters. Gerard Britchfield Acting CEO, Coillte Dublin Road, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow Tel: +353 (0)1 2011111 Email: pr@coillte.ie [pr@coillte.ie,info@coillte.ie,Gerard.Britchfield@coillte.ie,Mick.Donnellan@coillte.ie,Barry.Coad@coillte.ie] SAMPLE LETTER (If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below) Dear Mr Britchfield, I am writing to urge you to stop allowing hunters access to Coillte property in Galway and around Ireland. It is entirely unacceptable for Coillte to disregard the appalling suffering being caused to wildlife in your forests. Respect the wishes of the majority who want foxhunting outlawed and make all of your property off-limits to foxhunters. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location]