Coursing supporters mutiny in the County [LIMERICK]

by Campaign to end hare coursing Tue Jul 24, 2012 22:05

The Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports (CACS) has also been contacted by coursing fans who, despite their support for hare coursing generally, cannot stomach the idea of allowing another "Irish Cup" event on Limerick Racecourse. CACS has sent the following letter to Minister Jimmy Deenihan, requesting his intervention to prevent the racecourse from serving as a hare coursing venue at any future date:

Text of letter to Minister:

Re Attempt to have Limerick Racecourse reinstated as hare coursing venue despite evidence of unsuitability and animal welfare concerns…

Dear Minister,

We are contacting you in relation to a disturbing development concerning the use of a coursing venue that has proven itself especially dangerous to the welfare of hares used in the cruel practice of coursing.

We refer to Limerick Racecourse. We understand that the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) had decided last month to move the “Irish Cup” hare coursing event away from Limerick Racecourse owing to its unsuitability as a coursing venue.

We know from evidence gathered by observers at this year’s “Irish Cup” event that the venue is indeed an appalling example of how the hare is abused in this one-sided so-called “sport”.

Members of animal welfare groups attended the event, held in February at Limerick Racecourse, to observe the proceedings and one group filmed hares being severely mauled, pinned to the ground, or otherwise injured at the event.

We have learned today that a meeting of influential coursing supporters is to be convened on Thursday, July 26th, at which very powerful people within the greyhound industry will be pressing for a reversal of the ICC’s decision to move the “Irish Cup” event from Limerick Racecourse. These people want coursing to resume at the venue.

This information has come to us today from people who are themselves involved in hare coursing but do not condone the shocking treatment of hares witnessed at the racecourse in recent years.

We appeal to you, Minister, to intervene as a matter of urgency to prevent the holding of any further hare coursing events on Limerick Racecourse.

While we oppose hare coursing itself and are campaigning for its abolition, we urge you to address this specific issue of Limerick Racecourse to prevent the most blatant ill-treatment of animals.

In the past, you have stated that you have always had the welfare of hares at heart and that you wish to see them protected as far as practicable in coursing.

We would suggest to you that this is an opportunity to demonstrate compassion for the hares that continue to serve as live bait at coursing events.

After the footage of the coursing at Limerick Racecourse was shown on YouTube (a link to it is provided below for your attention) some leading advertisers with banners displayed at the racecourse expressed shock and revulsion at what the film had exposed.

Among these was Guinness, whose name was prominently highlighted on the Pavilion at the racecourse and on the actual course where the Irish Cup event took place.

Diageo’s Head of Corporate Communications phoned the Mullingar-based Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) to say that Diageo (Guinness) does not support or condone the type of activity shown in the film footage. We understand further that Diageo contacted Limerick Racecourse to express concern about the event.

Another advertiser, Specsavers at the Crescent Shopping Centre, Dooradoyle, Limerick, stated in a letter to ICABS that it was "deeply shocked - and deeply upset - that Specsavers is even remotely associated with the event in question".

Given the well-founded concerns for the welfare of hares baited at Limerick Racecourse, we urge you to intervene to prevent the future coursing of any hares at the venue.

Here is the film footage of this year’s “Irish Cup”, which demonstrates very clearly why the racecourse should be declared off-limits to this particular blood sport:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL741E0B6DA3CBB057

...End of text of letter to Minister Deenihan...

Hare Coursing: A "Sport"?

by Anti cruelty Wed Jul 25, 2012 21:59

The greyhound industry's main internet forum is awash with rumour and speculation as to what's going to happen next in the virtual civil war that has broken out between Co. Limerick coursing clubs and the governing body of the vile bloodsport. Leading industry spokesman J Scully, regarded as "the brains of Irish hare coursing" (which says something about the rest of them) is working hard to rally the troops, but, with all due respect to him, it's a lost cause. Hare coursing has lost all credibility...

Campaign commencing against sponsorship of vile hare coursing cruelty

by Defending the Hare Thu Jul 26, 2012 21:22

J Sculy on the GNuts forums believes that the source for the above info re the meeting between ICC and Co Limerick coursing fans was simply the Irish Examiner. Wrong. Look at the time and date of Indymedia post. The Examiner article on same issue did not surface (even online) until at least twelve hours AFTER the AOHS post appeared on Indymedia.

The info re the meeting was supplied as stated by a disgruntled coursing fan. The ICC is leaking like a sieve, with informers lining up to help our campaign with vital info and to spill the beans on a nasty and obscenely cruel bloodsport.

Speaking up for the voiceless...