Hare coursing continues in Ireland largely because powerful politicians are keeping it alive via either inaction or, worse still, actual support for this obscene form of animal cruelty. On March 8th, the Sinn Fein party will be holding its Ard Fheis (annual party conference) and this again will present an opportunity to people within that party to propose a reversal of Sinn Fein's current stance on hare coursing. Its official pro-hare coursing position makes it difficult for any Sinn Fein member to actively press for the abolition of this blood sport in Ireland. There are many SF members who are strongly oppoed to hare coursing and similar practices and the party's four MEPs (members of the European Parliament), to their eternal credit, backed a motion earlier this year calling for the scrapping of EU subsidies to the breeders of bulls for cruel bull fighting. You can help the anti-blood sports campaign by asking the Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, and Deputy Leader, Mary Lou McDonald, to support a reversal of the party's pro-hare coursing stance. Here are contact details: Mr. Gerry Adams TD, Dail Eireann, Dublin 2. Email: gerry.adams@oireachtas.ie Mary Lou McDonald TD, Dail Eireann, Dublin 2. Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie I was interviewed in 2011 on this issue (Sinn Fein's stance on hare coursing) and the programme can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di6Va2z2_B0