A live rabbit on a leash - "IN GREAT DISTRESS AND SQUEALING" - was dangled above greyhounds at a schooling track in County Kerry. More sickening revelations about blooding in the cruel greyhound industry... Father and son were 'blooding greyhounds' Kerry's Eye, July 26 2018 A live rabbit on a leash was dangled above greyhounds after being trained at a schooling track in Ballybunion, Listowel District Court was told. Before the court was William Geoghegan and his son John of Dalton Street, Athea, in a case involving the alleged 'blooding' of greyhounds. Judge David Waters heard how two officials of the Greyhound Racing Board observed William Geoghegan and his son John taking dogs to the schooling track at Tripol, Ballybunion, on May 24, 2017. After the animals had completed their circuit, a live rabbit on a leash was dangled above them, Inspector Liam Wallace told the court. The two officials attempted to take photographs of what was going on but the rabbit was taken from the scene before they could do this and as a result, the two men were charged with obstructing the Greyhound Board officials. William Geoghegan had been active in this incident with John Geoghegan playing a more passive role. One of the officials said that he had seen the rabbit in great distress and squealing. It was later observed lying in a ditch but was removed before he could look at it. He had not, however, seen any blood on the animal. Defending solicitor Patrick Enright said that there is a practice particularly with reluctant greyhounds, to give dogs the scent of a rabbit following a run to try to persuade them that the lure that they were chasing was, in fact, a live creature. The defendants had been co-operative when questioned afterwards and both are well respected individuals. John Geoghegan's involvement was minimal - he had walked away when the Board men approached while greyhounds have been a lifetime interest for William, and it sometimes brings financial gain too. Judge David Waters said that he would grant the benefit of the Probation Acts to John Geoghegan but that he would adjourn the cases against William to the sitting of September 20 to consider penalties. ------------------------------------- ICABS ACTION ALERT The cruel and crumbling greyhound industry has received nearly a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money since 2001 (including €16 million for 2018). Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to end funding to the greyhound industry and instead direct the money to charities and other deserving causes. Email "Stop funding the cruel greyhound industry" to taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie, paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2 Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020 Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie, finegael@finegael.ie Tweet to: @campaignforLeo Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/ Paschal Donohoe TD Minister for Finance Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie Phone: +353 (0)1 6045810 Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/ Tweet to @Paschald