by Alan Jacques
A NEW Coursing Cruelty Catalogue report by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) reveals the suffering of hares used in the bloodsport in County Limerick.
According to ICABS, the report, which analyses documents relating to the 2014-15 coursing season, confirms the continued cruelty of hare coursing for animals used as live bait.
Information obtained under Freedom of Information (FOI) from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), exposes evidence of hare coursing cruelty at the Doon and District meeting in County Limerick on November 29 and 30, 2014.
The FOI data indicates that during the coursing meet in Doon, two hares required assistance “meaning dogs hit or mauled the hare”.
ICABS claims that two animals were examined by a vet, who noted that he treated 12 hares with antibiotics, but offered no explanation as to why the hares needed this treatment.
It was also noted that two hares escaped during the Doon and District meet. One during coursing and another after being boxed. Meanwhile, NPWS data showed that Doon coursing club appeared to be in breach of Section 34 of the netting licence as they could not produce details on their members who were certified to catch hares on their behalf.
In addition, according to the NPWS official in attendance, three hares were released at Doon without consulting the ranger, another breach of Section 34.
An NPWS official also commented: “Some of the hares were not in good condition or fit to course, according to vet. Many had sores on their feet.”
Aideen Yourell of ICABS insists that if coursers are prepared to under-report hare injuries and kills and to breach licence conditions under the noses of monitoring NPWS officials, it is “more than likely that this is also occurring at meetings which are not being monitored”.
“The coursers know this. Every year, a sham exercise is played out by the National Parks HQ, who write to the Irish Coursing Club, raising licence breaches by their affiliated clubs. We suspect the coursers are thumbing their noses and literally laughing at the National Parks and Wildlife Service, because they know that no action will be taken, leaving them free to do as they please,” Ms Yourell claimed.
Limerick founder of the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN), John Carmody believes a time will come when society will look back in horror that such a cruel pastime was allowed to continue on “well beyond its sell by date”.
“Time and time again we’ve documented, and proven, that hares are dying and suffering before, during and after the coursing meets which take place in Limerick and beyond,” he said.
