114 TDs shamefully reject bill to ban cruel hare coursing

114 TDs shamefully reject bill to ban cruel hare coursing
06 July 2016

Watch as 114 TDs crowd into Dail Eireann to betray the Irish Hare and vote to ensure that hare coursing - one of Ireland's worst acts of cruelty to animals - continues. In a country where a majority want this vile bloodsport banned, these shameless public representatives were certainly not reflecting public opinion in their eagerness to protect coursing.

Enthusiastically piling into the Dail chamber, they disrespected the decent majority who abhor cruelty, they dismissed the petitions and all the appeals and worst of all, they disregarded the suffering and death inherent in coursing.

Shame on the 114 who had an opportunity to do the right thing but chose not to.

We thank and applaud the 20 compassionate TDs who stood up for Irish wildlife and supported Maureen O'Sullivan TD's bill. There will be more opportunities ahead to achieve a long overdue ban on hare coursing so please continue lobbying TDs, supporting protests, signing/sharing petitions, etc. The campaign will continue until the Irish Hare is permanently protected from persecution.

A list showing how TDs voted can be seen below.

ACTION ALERTS

Please join us in thanking the compassionate TDs who supported the bill. Complain to those who voted against the bill. Tell them that their stance on this animal cruelty issue means hares will continue to suffer and die in coursing. Urge them to show compassion for Irish wildlife and vote differently next time a similar bill comes before the Dail.

Find out names and contact details for TDs at https://www.whoismytd.com/

or on the Oireachtas website http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&disp=mem

Express your support for a ban on coursing. Sign and share our petitions

Ireland: Ban cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing

Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
https://www.change.org/p/save-irish-hares-from-cruel-coursing

YES: VOTED IN FAVOUR OF BILL - 20

Independents: 8
People Before Profit: 4
Anti Austerity Alliance: 3
Social Democrats: 3
Green Party: 2

Mick Barry (Anti Austerity Alliance, Cork North Central)
Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit Alliance, Dún Laoghaire)
Tommy Broughan (Independent, Party Dublin Bay North)
Joan Collins (People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin South Central)
Catherine Connolly (Independent, Galway West)
Ruth Coppinger (Anti Austerity Alliance, Dublin West)
Clare Daly (Independent, Dublin Fingal)
Stephen Donnelly (Social Democrats, Wicklow)
John Halligan (Independent, Waterford)
Gino Kenny (People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin Mid West)
Catherine Martin (Green Party, Dublin Rathdown)
Finian McGrath (Independent, Dublin Bay North)
Catherine Murphy (Social Democrats, Kildare North)
Paul Murphy (Anti Austerity Alliance, Dublin South West)
Maureen O'Sullivan (Independent, Dublin Central)
Shane Ross (Independent, Dublin Rathdown)
Eamon Ryan (Green Party, Dublin Bay South)
Róisín Shortall (Social Democrats, Dublin North West)
Bríd Smith (People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin South Central)
Mick Wallace (Independent, Wexford)

NO: VOTED AGAINST BILL - 114

Fine Gael: 46 TDs
Fianna Fail: 36 TDs
Sinn Fein: 16
Labour Party: 5
Independents: 11

Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein, Louth)
Bobby Aylward (Fianna Fail, Carlow Kilkenny)
Maria Bailey (Fine Gael, Dún Laoghaire)
Sean Barrett (Fine Gael, Dún Laoghaire)
John Brassill (Fianna Fail, Kerry County)
Declan Breathnach (Fianna Fail, Louth)
Pat Breen (Fine Gael, Clare)
Colm Brophy (Fine Gael, Dublin South West)
James Browne (Fianna Fail, Wexford)
Richard Bruton (Fine Gael, Dublin Bay North)
Pat Buckley (Sinn Fein, Cork East)
Peter Burke (Fine Gael, Longford Westmeath)
Joan Burton (Labour Party, Dublin West)
Mary Butler (Fianna Fail, Waterford)
Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael, Dublin South Central)
Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail, Meath East)
Jackie Cahill (Fianna Fail, Tipperary)
Dara Calleary (Fianna Fail, Mayo)
Sean Canney (Independent, Galway East)
Ciaran Cannon (Fine Gael, Galway East)
Joe Carey (Fine Gael, Clare)
Pat Casey (Fianna Fail, Wicklow)
Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail, Meath West)
Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail, Mayo)
Jack Chambers (Fianna Fail, Dublin West)
Niall Collins (Fianna Fail, Limerick County)
Michael Collins (Independent, Cork South West)
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Fine Gael, Offaly)
Simon Coveney (Fine Gael, Cork South Central)
Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail, Offaly)
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein, Waterford)
John Curran (Fianna Fail, Dublin Mid West)
Michael D’Arcy (Fine Gael, Wexford)
Jim Daly (Fine Gael, Cork South West)
John Deasy (Fine Gael, Waterford)
Patrick Deering (Fine Gael, Carlow Kilkenny)
Regina Doherty (Fine Gael, Meath East)
Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein, Donegal)
Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael, Dublin Central)
Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail, Clare)
Andrew Doyle (Fine Gael, Wicklow)
Bernard Durkan (Fine Gael, Kildare North)
Damien English (Fine Gael, Meath West)
Martin Ferris (Sinn Fein, Kerry County)
Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael, Dublin Mid West)
Michael Fitzmaurice (Independent, Roscommon Galway)
Peter Fitzpatrick (Fine Gael, Louth)
Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael, Laois)
Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail, Laois)
Brendan Griffin (Fine Gael, Kerry County)
Simon Harris (Fine Gael, Wicklow)
Michael Harty (Independent, Clare)
Sean Haughey (Fianna Fail, Dublin Bay North)
Seamus Healy (Unemployed Action Group, Tipperary)
Michael Healy-Rae (Independent, Kerry County)
Danny Healy-Rae (Independent, Kerry County)
Martin Heydon (Fine Gael, Kildare South)
Brendan Howlin (Labour Party, Wexford)
Paul Kehoe (Fine Gael, Wexford)
Enda Kenny (Fine Gael, Mayo)
Martin Kenny (Sinn Fein, Sligo Leitrim)
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael, Galway West)
John Lahart (Fianna Fail, Dublin South West)
Michael Lowry (Independent, Tipperary)
Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail, Sligo Leitrim)
Josepha Madigan (Fine Gael, Dublin Rathdown)
Micheál Martin (Fianna Fail, Cork South Central)
Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Fein, Dublin Central)
Helen McEntee (Fine Gael, Meath East)
Michael McGrath (Fianna Fail, Cork South Central)
Mattie McGrath (Independent, Tipperary)
John McGuinness (Fianna Fail, Carlow Kilkenny)
Tony McLoughlin (Fine Gael, Sligo Leitrim)
Denise Mitchell (Sinn Fein, Dublin Bay North)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Fine Gael, Dún Laoghaire)
Kevin “Boxer” Moran (Independent, Longford Westmeath)
Michael Moynihan (Fianna Fail, Cork North West)
Imelda Munster (Sinn Fein, Louth)
Dara Murphy (Fine Gael, Cork North Central)
Eoghan Murphy (Fine Gael, Dublin Bay South)
Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail, Roscommon Galway)
Margaret Murphy-O’Mahony (Fianna Fail, Cork South West)
Denis Naughten (Independent, Roscommon Galway)
Hildegarde Naughten (Fine Gael, Galway West)
Tom Neville (Fine Gael, Limerick County)
Carol Nolan (Sinn Fein, Offaly)
Michael Noonan (Fine Gael, Limerick City)
Éamon Ó Cuív (Fianna Fail, Galway West)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Sinn Fein, Cork South Central)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Fein, Dublin South Central)
Jim O’Callaghan (Fianna Fail, Dublin Bay South)
Kate O’Connell (Fine Gael, Dublin Bay South)
Kevin O’Keeffe (Fianna Fail, Cork East)
Fiona O’Loughlin (Fianna Fail, Kildare South)
Louise O’Reilly (Sinn Fein, Dublin Fingal)
Frank O’Rourke (Fianna Fail, Kildare North)
Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fail, Limerick City)
Patrick O'Donovan (Fine Gael, Limerick County)
Fergus O'Dowd (Fine Gael, Louth)
Willie Penrose (Labour Party, Longford Westmeath)
John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael, Carlow Kilkenny)
Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein, Limerick City)
Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail, Galway East)
Michael Ring (Fine Gael, Mayo)
Noel Rock (Fine Gael, Dublin North West)
Brendan Ryan (Labour Party, Dublin Fingal)
Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail, Sligo Leitrim)
Sean Sherlock (Labour Party, Cork East)
Brendan Smith (Fianna Fail, Cavan Monaghan)
Brian Stanley (Sinn Fein, Laois)
David Stanton (Fine Gael, Cork East)
Peadar Tóibín (Sinn Fein, Meath West)
Robert Troy (Fianna Fail, Longford Westmeath)
Dr. Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael, Dublin West)

DID NOT VOTE - 24

24 TDs chose to abstain or were not present to vote.

Fine Gael: 4 TDs
Fianna Fail: 8 TDs
Sinn Fein: 7 TDs
Labour Party: 2 TDs
Independents: 3 TDs

John Brady (Sinn Fein, Wicklow)
Michael Creed (Fine Gael, Cork North West)
Sean Crowe (Sinn Fein, Dublin South West)
Dessie Ellis (Sinn Fein, Dublin North West)
Alan Farrell (Fine Gael, Dublin Fingal)
Kathleen Funchion (Sinn Fein, Carlow Kilkenny)
Pat The Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fail, Donegal)
Noel Grealish (Independent, Galway West)
Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael, Cavan Monaghan)
Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fail, Cork North Central)
Alan Kelly (Labour Party, Tipperary)
James Lawless (Fianna Fail, Kildare North)
Charlie McConalogue (Fianna Fail, Donegal)
Joe McHugh (Fine Gael, Donegal)
Aindrias Moynihan (Fianna Fail, Cork North West)
Eoin Ó Broin (Sinn Fein, Dublin Mid West)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Sinn Fein, Cavan Monaghan)
Seán O Fearghaíl (Fianna Fail, Kildare South)
Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail, Dublin Fingal)
Jonathan O'Brien (Sinn Fein, Cork North Central)
Jan O'Sullivan (Labour Party, Limerick City)
Thomas Pringle (Independent, Donegal)
Niamh Smyth (Fianna Fail, Cavan Monaghan)
Katherine Zappone (Independent, Dublin South West)

Bill to ban cruel hare coursing - How TDs voted (by constituency)
Vote Result: 20 voted in favour, 114 voted against, 24 did not vote/abstained

Carlow Kilkenny

Bobby Aylward (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Patrick Deering (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Kathleen Funchion (Sinn Fein) Did not vote / Abstained
John McGuinness (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill

Cavan Monaghan

Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael) Did not vote / Abstained
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Sinn Fein) Did not vote / Abstained
Brendan Smith (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Niamh Smyth (Fianna Fail) Did not vote / Abstained

Clare

Pat Breen (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Joe Carey (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Michael Harty (Independent) Voted Against Bill

Cork East

Pat Buckley (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
Kevin O’Keeffe (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Sean Sherlock (Labour Party) Voted Against Bill
David Stanton (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill

Cork North Central

Mick Barry (Anti Austerity Alliance) Voted in favour of Bill
Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fail) Did not vote / Abstained
Dara Murphy (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Jonathan O'Brien (Sinn Fein) Did not vote / Abstained

Cork North West

Michael Creed (Fine Gael) Did not vote / Abstained
Michael Moynihan (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Aindrias Moynihan (Fianna Fail) Did not vote / Abstained

Cork South Central

Simon Coveney (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Micheál Martin (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Michael McGrath (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill

Cork South West

Michael Collins (Independent) Voted Against Bill
Jim Daly (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Margaret Murphy-O’Mahony (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill

Donegal

Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
Pat The Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fail) Did not vote / Abstained
Charlie McConalogue (Fianna Fail) Did not vote / Abstained
Joe McHugh (Fine Gael) Did not vote / Abstained
Thomas Pringle (Independent) Did not vote / Abstained

Dublin Bay North

Tommy Broughan (Independent) Voted in favour of Bill
Richard Bruton (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Sean Haughey (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Finian McGrath (Independent) Voted in favour of Bill
Denise Mitchell (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill

Dublin Bay South

Eoghan Murphy (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Jim O’Callaghan (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Kate O’Connell (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Eamon Ryan (Green Party) Voted in favour of Bill

Dublin Central

Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
Maureen O'Sullivan (Independent) Voted in favour of Bill

Dublin Fingal

Clare Daly (Independent, United Left) Voted in favour of Bill
Alan Farrell (Fine Gael) Did not vote / Abstained
Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail) Did not vote / Abstained
Louise O’Reilly (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
Brendan Ryan (Labour Party) Voted Against Bill

Dublin Mid West

John Curran (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Gino Kenny (People Before Profit Alliance) Voted in favour of Bill
Eoin Ó Broin (Sinn Fein) Did not vote / Abstained

Dublin North West

Dessie Ellis (Sinn Fein) Did not vote / Abstained
Noel Rock (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Róisín Shortall (Social Democrats) Voted in favour of Bill

Dublin Rathdown

Josepha Madigan (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Catherine Martin (Green Party) Voted in favour of Bill
Shane Ross (Independent) Voted in favour of Bill

Dublin South Central

Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Joan Collins (People Before Profit Alliance) Voted in favour of Bill
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
Bríd Smith (People Before Profit Alliance) Voted in favour of Bill

Dublin South West

Colm Brophy (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Sean Crowe (Sinn Fein) Did not vote / Abstained
John Lahart (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Paul Murphy (Anti Austerity Alliance) Voted in favour of Bill
Katherine Zappone (Independent) Did not vote / Abstained

Dublin West

Joan Burton (Labour Party) Voted Against Bill
Jack Chambers (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Ruth Coppinger (Anti Austerity Alliance) Voted in favour of Bill
Dr. Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill

Dún Laoghaire

Maria Bailey (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Sean Barrett (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit Alliance) Voted in favour of Bill
Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill

Galway East

Sean Canney (Independent) Voted Against Bill
Ciaran Cannon (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill

Galway West

Catherine Connolly (Independent) Voted in favour of Bill
Noel Grealish (Independent) Did not vote / Abstained
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Hildegarde Naughten (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Éamon Ó Cuív (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill

Kerry County

John Brassill (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Martin Ferris (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
Brendan Griffin (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Michael Healy-Rae (Independent) Voted Against Bill
Danny Healy-Rae (Independent) Voted Against Bill

Kildare North

Bernard Durkan (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
James Lawless (Fianna Fail) Did not vote / Abstained
Catherine Murphy (Social Democrats) Voted in favour of Bill
Frank O’Rourke (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill

Kildare South

Martin Heydon (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Seán O Fearghaíl (Fianna Fail) Did not vote / Abstained
Fiona O’Loughlin (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill

Laois

Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Brian Stanley (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill

Limerick City

Michael Noonan (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Jan O'Sullivan (Labour Party) Did not vote / Abstained
Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill

Limerick County

Niall Collins (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Tom Neville (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Patrick O'Donovan (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill

Longford Westmeath

Peter Burke (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Kevin “Boxer” Moran (Independent) Voted Against Bill
Willie Penrose (Labour Party) Voted Against Bill
Robert Troy (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill

Louth

Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
Declan Breathnach (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Peter Fitzpatrick (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Imelda Munster (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
Fergus O'Dowd (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill

Mayo

Dara Calleary (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Enda Kenny (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Michael Ring (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill

Meath East

Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Helen McEntee (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill

Meath West

Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Damien English (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Peadar Tóibín (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill

Offaly

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Carol Nolan (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill

Roscommon Galway

Michael Fitzmaurice (Independent) Voted Against Bill
Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Denis Naughten (Independent) Voted Against Bill

Sligo Leitrim

Martin Kenny (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Tony McLoughlin (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill

Tipperary

Jackie Cahill (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Seamus Healy (Workers and Unemployed Action Group) Voted Against Bill
Alan Kelly (Labour Party) Did not vote / Abstained
Michael Lowry (Independent) Voted Against Bill
Mattie McGrath (Independent) Voted Against Bill

Waterford

Mary Butler (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) Voted Against Bill
John Deasy (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
John Halligan (Independent) Voted in favour of Bill

Wexford

James Browne (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Michael D’Arcy (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Brendan Howlin (Labour Party) Voted Against Bill
Paul Kehoe (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Mick Wallace (Independent) Voted in favour of Bill

Wicklow

John Brady (Sinn Fein) Did not vote / Abstained
Pat Casey (Fianna Fail) Voted Against Bill
Stephen Donnelly (Social Democrats) Voted in favour of Bill
Andrew Doyle (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill
Simon Harris (Fine Gael) Voted Against Bill

Video: Dail debate on bill to ban hare coursing (23rd June 2016)

Speaking during the debate were:

Maureen O'Sullivan TD (00:00)
Minister Heather Humphreys (13:42)
Kevin O'Keeffe (24:45)
Martin Kenny TD (35:07)
Clare Daly TD (37:35)
Michael Harty TD (47:51)
Catherine Martin TD (49:50)
Joe Carey TD (57:01)
Paul Murphy TD (01:05:51)
Mick Wallace TD (01:12:58)
Mattie McGrath TD (01:19:09)
Brid Smith TD (01:29:12)
Minister Heather Humphreys (01:34:05)
Maureen O'Sullivan TD (01:38:35)

Read a transcript of the debate at
https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2016-06-23a.322

MAJOR CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT - DAIL TO VOTE ON BILL TO BAN HARE COURSING
16 June 2016

Maureen O'Sullivan TD's Private Member's Bill to ban hare coursing will be introduced into Dail Eireann next Thursday 23rd June and it is expected that a vote will be taken on it the following Thursday, 30th June. It is imperative that everyone contacts all their local TDs in the coming days requesting that they support this historic bill.

Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their contact details
http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&disp=mem

If successful, Deputy O'Sullivan's bill would finally make illegal the capturing of hares from the wild for use as live lures for greyhounds to chase in coursing. It would be the culmination of decades of campaigning for a ban and bring the Republic into line with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where this disgusting activity has been outlawed for years.

The last Private Member's Bill to ban coursing was taken by the late Deputy Tony Gregory in 1993, which was sadly defeated. The solution at that time was to call on the coursing clubs to muzzle the greyhounds, but this has had a very limited effect and hares continue to be struck and mauled by the greyhounds, resulting in their injury and death. And it has in no way alleviated the terror and stress for hares taken from the wild in nets and forced to run before greyhounds.

Recently we received under Freedom of Information the reports of maulings, injuries and kills for the 2015/16 coursing season, and the pattern is the same year after year.

For example at Tubbercurry in January, it was noted by the National Parks ranger that 14 hares were hit, 12 injured, six badly, with 1 dying of injuries and 3 more put down. At Old Kilcullen last December, 7 hares were struck, with 3 dying of injuries, according to the coursers; at Co. Kerry coursing, 3 hares were struck with 2 being put down; at Dundalk 3 hares were struck with 2 dying of injuries; at Macroom 6 hares “required assistance” according to the coursers, a euphemism for being struck and mauled, with 3 being put down; at Mooncoin, 5 hares “required assistance” and 1 was put down.

At Ardpatrick & Kilfinane, where an ICABS monitor was assaulted and had a camera taken, 3 hares “required assistance” and 2 were put down; at Ennis Clarecastle, 5 hares were struck, 3 injured, 1 died due to injury and 2 were put down because of injuries; at New Ross 7 hares were hit, 4 injured and 1 put down; at Rathcormac, 2 hares “required assistance” with 1 being put down; at Balbriggan, 2 hares “required assistance” with 1 dying of injuries.

At a meeting in Cavan, 7 hares “required assistance”, with 1 dying from injuries. At Clonmel & Kilsheelan, 3 hares “required assistance” with 1 dying from injuries; at Cork coursing club, 4 hares “required assistance”, with 1 dying of injuries.

At East Donegal, 7 hares were struck by greyhounds, but the coursers stated that no hares were hit over the two days. The ranger noted in a memo that on the second day of coursing “the club committee agreed to cancel two of the races...as they thought that the weather had taken its toll on the hares”. He added that “on the morning of the first day’s coursing there were three dead hares in the hare paddocks.

At Bandon & Mitchelstown, 5 hares “required assistance”, with 5 requiring treatment by a vet, and 1 dying of injuries; at Liscannor 1 hare “required assistance” and died; At Templetuohy 6 hares “required assistance” and 1 died of “natural causes”; at Trim 1 hare “required assistance” and 1 hare died of injuries; at Wexford coursing meeting, a ranger stated that 6 hares were hit by dogs, 1 put down because of injuries.

There was hardly a coursing meeting where hares were not struck by the dogs. In any event, every single hare taken from the wild to be used as live bait suffered from being removed from from its habitat.

ICABS is calling on all political parties to allow a free vote on this issue.

Friend of the Animals, Maureen O'Sullivan TD: Introducing a bill which seeks to finally ban the cruel bloodsport of live hare coursing.

Video: It's time for a ban on Ireland's cruel hare coursing