Hare coursers have been denied permission to capture hares on State lands...Let's keep it that way!

It's bad enough that live hare coursing is still legal in the Republic of Ireland. Now, coursing clubs are attempting to gain access to fields and forests previously off-limits to them.

Documents unearthed under FOI (Freedom of Information) reveal that hare coursers recently persuaded officials from Ireland's Agriculture Ministry to contact the State Forestry Agency, Coillte (an Irish word pronounced Qeeltya) to see if permission might be granted for squads of trappers to enter State lands to capture hares for live coursing.

Coillte has ownership of about 7% of Ireland's land...encompassing about one million acres of forests, wild bogs, mountains, rivers, and idyllic beaches. Right now, hares cannot be legally captured within this territory, which serves as a haven for them from the ghoulish coursers who seemingly cannot capture enough of the gentle creatures for their vile "sport."

Thankfully, Coillte said NO to the hare coursers, refusing them permission to trap hares on State-owned lands.

But that may not be the end of the matter. The coursers are furious and deeply incensed by the rejection, and are determined to continue pressing their "case" for access to State lands to get their hands on as many hares as they can grab for baiting.

Should they succeed in persuading Coillte to reverse its decision, hares that are now safe from them will end up being netted and forced to run for their lives at coursing events. They will be mauled, forcibly struck by the dogs, have their bones crushed, and end up either injured or dead...or so traumatized by the ordeal of contrived chasing and weeks of unnatural captivity that many will die in the wild afterwards from the effects of Stress Myopathy.

So, let's ask Coillte to stick to its decision NOT to allow hare trappers onto its lands in ANY part of Ireland.

A message something like the following (or compose your own message):

Head Office,

Coillte,

Dublin Road,

Newtownmountkennedy,

Co. Wicklow,

A63 DN25

Dear Coillte,

I am relieved to learn that you have not granted permission for the trapping of hares on your lands. Please maintain that position so that the iconic Irish Hare, a beautiful and inoffensive animal that is under threat from loss of habitat in recent years, will continue to be safe on Coillte lands from the horrors of live hare coursing.

Messages can be emailed to Coillte at:

info@coillte.ie

Thanking you,

John Fitzgerald,

Campaign for the Abolition

of Cruel Sports