“Fox hunting is a barbaric and savage activity and has no place in any civilised society, so to learn that Sinn Féin did not seize this opportunity to support this bill and ensure its continued progress into law, appalled me” - Read Gerard McAnuff’s Letter in the Irish News and please scroll down for action alert...
On same page as DUP over hunting
Letter, Dec 27th 2021, Irish News
I echo journalist Patricia Mac Bride’s comments (December 8) regarding Alliance member John Blair’s private member’s bill aimed at banning fox hunting in the north of Ireland.
Sinn Féin, some DUP MLAs and Jim Allister were successful in ensuring the bill was stopped.
I commend the efforts and values of SDLP, UUP, Alliance and some independents and the six DUP MLAs (information gained from The Irish News, December 9). While I don’t share DUP politics, on this occasion and on this issue we are on the same page.
During my life, respect, love of the countryside and its wildlife have and continue to be guiding principles in my thinking and behaviour. So it was with horror and dismay that I learned that Sinn Féin and others were responsible for this long overdue bill being stopped.
Fox hunting is a barbaric and savage activity and has no place in any civilised society, so to learn that Sinn Féin (a party I have voted for since they began to contest elections) did not seize this opportunity to support this bill and ensure its continued progress into law, appalled me.
Some people and organisations continue to call this activity a sport when in reality it is savage, brutal and horrifying and can and does end in the fox or stag being torn to shreds by a pack of bloodthirsty hounds or being stressed out trying to escape. How anyone can condone or promote fox hunting as acceptable behaviour in the 21st century is beyond understanding.
I contacted the Newry office of Sinn Féin to discuss the issue. I spoke to several people who promised to return my call. I am still waiting.
This issue may not be high on the Richter scale when you consider the terrible tragedies happening worldwide but if our legislators are unable or unwilling to protect our vulnerable and precious wildlife and environments, what message is being sent out to future generations.
The passing of this bill would have been a small but significant step in achieving this aim.
GERARD McANUFF
Newry, Co Down
ACTION ALERT
In the Northern Ireland Assembly on 6 December 2021, 25 Sinn Fein MLAs voted against a ban on foxhunting in the North, ensuring that the anti-bloodsports bill was defeated. This despite party president Mary Lou McDonald assuring ICABS in 2020 that “Sinn Fein is opposed to foxhunting and will vote in favour of a ban at the next opportunity”.
Contact Mary Lou McDonald TD and ask why Sinn Fein MLAs voted against the bill. Urge the party to vote in favour of a ban when John Blair MLA re-introduces his Bill to ban hunting with hounds.
Mary Lou McDonald TD
President, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Sinn Féin Head Office
44 Cearnóg Pharnell
Dublin 1, Ireland
Phone: 01 8726100
Email: admin@sinnfein.ie
Sinn Féin, 53 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 4PD
Tel: 02890 347350
Contact Sinn Fein MLAs and appeal to them to pledge support for a ban on hunting with dogs.
Email addresses for Sinn Fein MLAs
martina.anderson@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; caoimhe.archibald@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; cathal.boylan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; nicolabrogan.sfmla@gmail.com; linda.dillon@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; jemma.dolan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; sinead.ennis@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; orlaithi.flynn@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; colm.gildernew@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; deirdre.hargey@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; declan.kearney@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; gerry.kelly@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; liz.kimmins@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; sean.lynch@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; alex.maskey@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; declan.mcaleer@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; fra.mccann@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; philip.mcguigan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; maoliosa.mchugh@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; karen.mullan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; conor.murphy@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; caral.nichuilin@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; john.odowd@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; michelle.oneill@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; emma.rogan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; pat.sheehan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; emma.sheerin@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
Find out more contact details at
http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/search.aspx
Please sign and share the petitions
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland
https://www.change.org/p/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
Ireland – Ban cruel hare coursing
http://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
SEE ALSO
Sinn Fein vote ensures foxhunt cruelty to continue in Northern Ireland
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2021/12/07/sinn-fein-vote-ensures-foxhunt-cruelty-to-continue-in-northern-ireland/
“Sinn Féin is opposed to foxhunting” and will “vote in favour of a ban”
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2020/02/04/sinn-fein-is-opposed-to-foxhunting-and-will-vote-in-favour-of-a-ban/
Sinn Féin support for a ban on cruel bloodsports https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2021/10/17/sinn-fein-support-for-a-ban-on-cruel-bloodsports/