In recent days, protesters outside greyhound tracks in Ireland have faced counter-demonstrations, with menacing characters taking up positions directing facing anti-cruelty pickets. A counter demo at Shelbourne park racing stadium in Dublin on Saturday night turned particularly nasty. I attach a link to footage of the incident below.

This is the industry lashing out in the wake of the RTE Investigates programme on horrific ill-treatment of greyhounds and the withdrawal of racing sponsorship by several companies, and of course the severance of the link between the Greyhound Board and the Rose of Tralee Festival.

The truth is out there and no amount of bullying is going to make the sickening facts about endemic animal cruelty, doping, and widespread dumping of live, dead, or dying greyhounds by callous owners/trainers.

Nor indeed the scandal of massive over-breeding that fuels the widespread culling and exports to China and Pakistan. People who can shoot an unwanted greyhound in the brain or whack the poor animal over the head with a spade won’t shrink from a bit of aggression against protesters.

In the past I’ve seen hare coursing fans beating protesters with lengths of hose pipe and kicking them as they lay on the ground.

And while that drama played out, hares inside the coursing venue were being mauled and tossed about…screeching like babies against a chorus of cheering and laughter from the crowd.

What a lovely industry!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLqhDzHLFlo