Anti-coursing activists seek hare-trapping ban

Animal rights activists have called on the Government to ban catching hares from the wild for use in coursing.

The Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS), which claims the sport is opposed by 80 per cent of people in the Republic, says up to 7,000 hares are captured for use in coursing in Ireland each year.

"These timid wild creatures are subjected to utter terror, stress and the risk of injury and death from being struck and mauled by muzzled dogs," said ICABS spokeswoman Aideen Yourell.

Under the 1976 Wildlife Act, it is illegal to trap or sell hares other than for the specific purpose of coursing them.

The ICABS is calling on Minister for the Environment Dick Roche to change this law to make it a criminal offence to trap hares for any purpose.

The Irish Coursing Club's 81st National meet begins in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, today. Thousands of dogs, handlers and spectators are expected to attend.

Over 200 hares will be used in Clonmel, where 144 greyhounds will compete for eight titles or stakes.  Each of the 90 coursing clubs in the Republic of Ireland will supply about two hares each.

Actor and former footballer Vinnie Jones is expected to attend the three-day event. The former Wimbledon and Wales player owns over a dozen greyhounds and is a frequent visitor to Ireland.

When he announced his intention to travel to the Clonmel meet, the British League Against Cruel Sports accused him of glamorising coursing and urged to stay away.

Coursing enthusiasts from all over Britain are now attending meets in Ireland since it became illegal in England, Scotland and Wales under the Hunting Act of 2004.

Although it is technically still legal to course in Northern Ireland, the NI Department of the Environment have begun withholding licences for trapping hares.