I’ve been asked about the dodgy politician in my novel “Time to Stop Running”. He’s a fictional character, of course, but typical of the type of “nod and wink” operator that has ensured the survival of blood sports against the wishes of most Irish people. Such calculating politicians, in Ireland as elsewhere, will happily support the worst forms of recreational animal cruelty for as long as this unprincipled stance wins them even a handful of votes.

At this time of year the plight of wildlife comes into sharp focus thanks to an upsurge in blood sport activity. Far from getting a break from man’s inhumanity, hares have to “perform” for them in even greater numbers nationwide, running for their lives from pairs of greyhounds that themselves suffer dreadful injuries on the coursing fields.

Foxes are hounded to exhaustion and death by Ireland’s rich and famous, with the spade and terrier gangs in tow to dig out any fox that escapes underground from the baying packs of dogs. Badgers struggle to free themselves from snares laid on behalf of the Irish Government in its failed bid to eradicate Bovine TB. To continues to scapegoat this shy nocturnal creature that, like the hare, is ostensibly “protected” under Irish law.

Meanwhile, game birds are targeted for fun. Stretches of wintry sky serve as shooting galleries and fields are transformed into abattoirs. The pheasant with his dazzling multi-coloured plumage rises from a tee or bush, spreading his magnificent wings. Then, bang! In an instant this jewel of nature is reduced to a quivering, twisted clump of feathers. Ducks that mothers have taken their children to feed are neatly blasted from our rivers and lakes.

As festive lights twinkle the innocent creatures of field and forest are deemed “fair game” to experience fear, distress, injury, and death in the name of sport while their tormenters have themselves a merry little Christmas.

Some day, perhaps, humanity will turn its back on these squalid practices. By then, sadly, we’ll be lucky to be still living on a habitable planet with any wildlife left to protect.

·         In writing “Time to Stop Running”, which is a fantasy story of a hare who takes on cruel humans, I hope to heighten awareness of these issues. Here’s the Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/IrishHareBook/