‘Fox hunting on increase since ban-bill defeat’, says Cork activist

Fox hunting has increased in some areas following the vote not to ban the practice, a local activist has claimed.

The bill to ban, proposed by People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, was defeated on December 17 by a large majority in the Dáil.

The result was that 124 TDs from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Fein, Independent Ireland, and Aontú voted to keep fox hunting.

Evie Nevin, a Labour representative for West Cork, claims there has been an increase in fox hunting since the vote. Ms Nevin said: “It has been very distressing. That vote by the Government, Sinn Féin, Independent Ireland, and Aontú told hunters exactly what they needed to hear: Carry on,” she said.

“It offered political protection to those inflicting cruelty, and none at all to the animals suffering because of it.”

Hunts and hounds have caused “terrified foxes” to flee from her garden in distress, she said, upsetting her child and pets.

“Hounds have come into my garden” she said, “distressing my pets and putting them at risk. They’ve also damaged my hedging. On occasion, I have been left to care for nervous, abandoned hounds, while tracking down their owners,” she said.

“This is chaos, cruelty, and a total disregard for life.

“Those defending fox hunting claim it is tradition. It is not. It is a colonial blood sport that has nothing to do with Irish rural life. They claim it provides rural jobs. If that were true, humane alternatives, like drag hunting, exist that protect wildlife, while still employing people.”

Ms Nevin said the Government and members of the opposition who voted against the ban claim it is regulated. “Hunts are self-policed, there is no mandatory government oversight, and enforcement is minimal,” Ms Nevin said, denying claims that fox hunting is a form of pest control. “Hunting is ineffective and unnecessary; humane, targeted methods exist to manage wildlife responsibly,” she said.

In East Cork, animal rights campaigners who successfully gathered 50 signatures in a petition given to local landowners calling for an end to the practice said there were no fox hunts over Christmas.

The community of Lahard said they were particularly appalled at the digging-out of the fox from underground by terriers to be killed by the hounds.

One of the campaigners said there was a mixed reaction to the initiative by the landowners. The majority of residents in the area fought against fox hunting and letters were handed to farmers and landowners.

She said: “There was no fox hunt this Christmas. That is a good thing. One landowner was very helpful and said he would stop the hunts going onto his land.

“However, another landowner didn’t take it well and rang several people to get them to change their mind.

“Our petition was very respectful and we wanted to share our views. We were disappointed by the actions of some. There is no excuse for fox hunting: It is a barbaric practice”.