Order of Malta back at animal cruelty festival

Shame on first aid group, Order of Malta, for ignoring calls to stay away from the Clonmel hare coursing crueltyfest. An Order of Malta ambulance was spotted inside the grounds of Powerstown Park on Sunday 31st January 2016 and was later seen driving past protesters gathered outside the venue. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports had appealed to Order of Malta to show compassion for the Irish Hares netted from the wild and used as live bait for dogs to chase. Over 1,100 people signed a petition urging the group to stop attending events involving cruelty to animals. In an email to the Order of Malta’s Dublin headquarters, ICABS praised the organisation’s valuable work across the country but pointed out that volunteering at an animal cruelty event at which defenceless animals are forced to run for their lives is surely contrary to the Order of Malta’s ethos of compassion and alleviating suffering. “The coursing meeting in Clonmel is the culmination of a season of animal cruelty,” we stated in our letter. We brought to their attention photographs taken at Clonmel which show hares desperately running for their lives in front of greyhounds. “Every coursing season, hares are hit and mauled, resulting in painful injuries and deaths,” we added. “Injuries include bruises, broken bones and dislocated hips. This is not the type of activity the Order of Malta should be associating with.” ACTION ALERT Urge the Order of Malta to stop providing volunteers to animal cruelty events. Order of Malta Ireland, St John’s House, 32 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Tel: 01-6430000 Email: info@orderofmalta.ie, chancellery@orderofmalta.ie, sub-priory@orderofmalta.ie, omac@orderofmalta.ie, Clonmel@orderofmalta.ie