Every hare coursing fixture in Ireland has a warning sign mounted that states: "All Unauthorised Photography Strictly Prohibited." Understandably, as they've got much to hide about what they do to defenceless hares in the name of "sport". So if you produce a camera at such an event you can expect hostile attention. But today, (October 30th), two anti blood sport campaigners were filming a coursing event from a PUBLIC ROAD when they came under vicious attack. See picture. The following statement has been issued by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) about what happened: Members of ICABS came under attack today while gathering evidence of hare coursing cruelty in Ballinagar, County Offaly. A balaclava-clad thug, with all the appearances of a gangland criminal, rushed us while we were filming from a public area overlooking the coursing field. The thug charged at the cameraman roaring "give me the camera, give me that f***ing camera". He proceeded to manhandle him, trying to drag him from the car and attempting to grab the video camera. He forced our car door open and clung to the side of the vehicle, only letting go when the vehicle started picking up speed. As we drove away, he ran out on to the road menacingly. This is the latest incidence of thuggery, violence and intimidation by the coursers in their desperate attempt to prevent evidence of their cruelty being exposed to an increasingly disgusted public. The Gardai arrived on the scene - apparently summoned by the coursers who falsely claimed we were filming from private property. They lied to the Gardai and wasted their time in an effort to try and get us to stop recording. While speaking to the Gardai and ensuring them that we always stay within the law, we outlined the terror tactics used by the coursers. We did manage to obtain video footage today and yesterday of the awful plight of the hares. The terrified creatures could be seen desperately running for their lives from the dogs in this shameful blood sport licensed by Minister Humphreys and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. We will not be deterred by coursing thugs and will continue exposing the ugly truth about their shameful activity until coursing is banned and the Irish Hare is fully protected. If you wish to call for a ban on hare coursing in Ireland, here are contact details: * Contact Minister Heather Humphreys and the NPWS and urge them to withdraw the coursing licence and put in place permanent protection for hares. Heather Humphreys, TD Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs 23 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Email: Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie, ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie, taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie, wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie, Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie Phone the Minister: +353 (0)1 631 3802 or +353 (0)1 631 3800 Phone the NPWS: Tel: +353 (0)1 888 3289 or leave a comment on the Minister's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/heather.humphreysfg or Tweet to: @HHumphreysFG