Greyhound racing supporter and former GAA player Jimmy Barry Murphy ‘may have scored an own goal’ - Read John Fitzgerald’s Letter to the Editor in this week’s Dublin People...
Greyhound industry indefensible
Letter in Dublin People (March 12th)
Dear Editor,
I admire the great sporting achievements of Jimmy Barry Murphy, as a hurler and footballer and tireless advocate of Gaelic Game.
His place in the GAA’s eternal Hall of Fame is assured. On the pitch he was a talent to be reckoned with, as our mighty Kilkenny team discovered once or twice to its cost.
But I can’t speak as approvingly of Jimmy Barry’s recent public defence of the embattled greyhound industry.
He repeated the industry’s official line that most greyhound owners are fine people, with just a few bad apples giving the game a negative image.
But it isn’t a handful of shady individuals causing problems: It’s over-breeding. This leads to abandonment and killing of unwanted dogs.
The missing 6000 greyhounds referred to in the RTE Primetime Investigates report two years ago didn’t just disappear into the Irish version of the Bermuda Triangle.
The industry also encompasses hare coursing.
The hare does occasionally find itself being propelled skyward like a sliotar on a hurling field, but any comparison with real sport ends there. It’s an unfortunate animal, not a ball; that gets whacked.
Jimmy Barry also highlighted how sponsors of greyhound racing have withdrawn support owing to “intimidation.”
This is an unfair depiction of the campaigns focusing on animal cruelty and malpractice within the industry.
I am familiar with the various animal protection groups and I’ve heard or seen nothing that would lend credence to this allegation that industry reps have been touting in recent days. People are entitled to contact commercial sponsors of any activity they disapprove of.
Whether they do so by email or phone it’s perfectly legitimate, provided no threatening, violent, or otherwise inappropriate language is used.
Pressure groups exist specifically to exert pressure. Nobody of course likes to be on the receiving end of pressure; whether a company backing an unpopular cause or enterprise, or a sportsperson fending off a big challenge on the pitch.
Jimmy Barry’s decision to draw attention to the impact of campaigning on sponsorship of greyhound racing was tactically not a very wise one, as it surely must encourage anyone who wondered if his or her pressure tactics were working.
For possibly the first time in his life, the great sportsman may have scored an Own Goal.
John Fitzgerald
Callan, Kilkenny
ACTION ALERT
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Another €19.2 million of scarce public funds has been granted to greyhound racing for 2021. Since 2001, greyhound racing has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money. Please contact your local TDs and demand that they oppose the funding.
Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33
Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on cruel greyhound racing
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
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
Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel: 067 34190
Email: alan.kelly@oir.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alankellylabour
REPORTED GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS
2020: 255 injuries. 90 deaths (88 destroyed by vet + 2 fatalities)
2019: 332 injuries. 119 deaths
2018: 353 injuries. 121 deaths
2017: 357 injuries. 124 deaths
2016: 427 injuries. 139 deaths
2015: 422 injuries. 122 deaths
Watch RTE’s award-winning "Greyhounds Running For Their Lives" documentary at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports