Annual hunt meeting draws 500 protestors.

Wednesday December 28, 2005 20:03

by Association of Hunt Saboteurs.

Hunts Hounded

Annual hunt meeting draws 500 protestors.

Irish Examiner 27-12-2005

by Ciaran Murphy

THE Association of Hunt Saboteurs and BadgerWatch Ireland yesterday urged the Government to follow Britain's example and introduce legislation to ban all forms of hunting with dogs.

The call came after an anti-bloodsports protest at the annual St Stephen's Day hunt meeting in Tramore, Co Waterford.

Some protest groups have warned that the sabotaging of activities will be stepped up at hunting events during the holiday period.

THE Association of Hunt Saboteurs and BadgerWatch Ireland yesterday urged the Government to follow Britain's example and introduce legislation to ban all forms of hunting with dogs.The call came after an anti-bloodsports protest at the annual St Stephen's Day hunt meeting in Tramore, Co Waterford.

Some protest groups have warned that the sabotaging of activities will be stepped up at hunting events during the holiday period.

The street between the Majestic Hotel and Splashworld Leisure Centre was lined with those supporting and opposing the hunt, as hounds, followed by members of the Waterford Foxhounds, left for a day's hunting at midday yesterday.

More than 500 people were present during an official annual protest, which first commenced in 1989. Approximately 30 protestors holding placards blew on whistles as the hunt started to the sound of numerous bugles.

The Hunting Act in Britain allows techniques such as drag hunting to take place, where dogs are set off on the trail of a scent laid approximately 20 minutes in advance by a rider dragging a lure.

Criticising the hunt, the national coordinator with BadgerWatch Ireland, Bernie Barrett, said: "We want to highlight the abuse and make people think about what goes on behind the postcard picture setting of fox hunting."

She said foxes were intelligent and sentient creatures who feel pain and fear.

Campaign director with the Association of Hunt Saboteurs, John Tierney, said hunting with hounds was a brutal activity and existed "solely for pleasure and entertainment".

"It has no role in the conservation and protection of wildlife," he said.

The fox, he said, was a natural predator that should not be controlled.

It was claimed that the hunt crossed a reservoir owned by Waterford County Council and hunted at the back of Ballyscanlon Wood, owned by An Coillte. It was not known whether the group had been granted permission to hunt in that area.

The Waterford Foxhounds declined to comment yesterday afternoon.