Further compelling evidence of hare coursing cruelty

international | animal rights | press release

Tuesday February 26, 2013 15:28

by Ban Hare Coursing in Ireland

Film Footage damns Irish hare coursing and exposes political lies

On February 23rd and 24th, members of an anti blood sports campaign group attended part of the so-called “Irish Cup” live hare coursing event, which was held on Limerick racecourse and sponsored by multi millionaire businessman JP McManus. They managed, in spite of an official ban on “unauthorised photography” that apples to all hare coursing events, to film some of the action.

Protest against hare coursing at Dail, with Clare Daly TD on far left

The footage offers further proof, if such were needed, of the pain and terror inflicted on these gentle creatures for “sport”.

Please find below three links to the footage. In the first piece, one can clearly hear the hare crying out in distress after being hit and mauled by the dogs. The second piece of footage shows a hare being carried off the field after being severely mauled. You will see a man place the hare in a box that appears to rest on a wall at the other side of the venue. The third piece shows a hare being pinned down and struck by the dogs close to the so-called "escape".

This footage bears out the contents of reports filed for the 2011/12 coursing season by rangers of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) which detail many other such instances of hares being mauled or otherwise horribly injured in this medieval pastime. It clearly shows that having the dogs muzzled does not prevent the mauling of hares, despite repeated assurances to this effect from ministers Coveney and Deenihan.

Advertisers desert hare coursers this year!

In a very positive development, advertisers that in past years had their hoardings prominently displayed at Limerick Racecourse during the “Irish Cup” hare coursing event were conspicuous this year by their absence. After last year’s “Irish Cup”, animal welfare groups lobbied the advertisers and specifically asked them to withdraw their displays from the racecourse while hare coursing was in progress at the venue. Specsavers, Diageo and others confirmed they would be removing the displays next time.

This year, not one advertising board was allowed to remain for any part of the three day event.

The withdrawal of the hoardings represents another milestone along the road to ridding Ireland of this appalling practise. Unfortunately many politicians are still prepared to accommodate the hare coursing clubs.

Animal protections groups have written to all members of the Oireachtas, urging them to at least view the footage obtained at the “Irish Cup” before accepting the proposed exemption for hare coursing that Minister Coveney wants to insert in the Animal Health and Welfare Bill currently proceeding through the Dail.

We've suggested to them it would be grossly unfair to animal welfare groups, to the majority of Irish people (according to opinion polls) who oppose hare coursing and to the inoffensive creatures themselves targeted by this blood sport, for TDs to blandly accept the continued legality of hare coursing, and a considerable strengthening of its legal position via this new legislation... without being even aware of what hare coursing involves or bothering to find out.

We maintain that hare coursing (already banned in many jurisdictions) is a relic of a different, less animal friendly Ireland where such practises were deemed normal and acceptable but that there is no longer any excuse for allowing such public exhibitions of recreational cruelty, especially when a switch to the humane alternative of drag coursing would resolve the issue to the satisfaction of most reasonable people.

The footage is of short duration and viewing it will take only a minute or two.

Video clip one: Hare cries out when hit and mauled...at "Irish Cup" coursing event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=...EpTI#!

Video clip two: Hare severely mauled and carried off field...at "Irish Cup" Coursing event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el8RIHTQA_U&feature=play...dded#!

Video Clip Three: A hare is hit and pinned to the ground...at "Irish Cup" coursing event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79xMCOmoIII&feature=youtu.be