THE IRISH Coursing Club has announced a reward of €20,000 for information “leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the injury and suffering caused to a hare”, which is the subject of a controversial video.
The club said the video was posted on the internet earlier this month by the Irish Association of Hunt Saboteurs, who allege it contains footage filmed during a greyhound coursing event in Clonmel on February 3rd last.
The club yesterday reiterated its belief that the video was a fake and that the hare “is clearly restrained with a wire or thin cord, and appears to be convulsing”.
It said close inspection shows that “the hare is trying to escape from being restrained and is possibly partly sedated or poisoned”.
The club’s chief executive DJ Histon said it “is well-documented how animal rights activists have ‘sacrificed’ animals in the furtherance of their cause”.
The club has referred “this act of cruelty” and a break-in at its venue to gardaí in Co Tipperary, who said their investigation was continuing. Mr Histon appealed to “anyone with relevant information to come forward”.
The video was posted on YouTube earlier this month by the anti-hunt group. Spokeswoman Bernie Wright said the video was taken from “40 minutes of footage” filmed during the national meeting of the Irish Coursing Club in Clonmel.
She released a new statement issued by two students in Sweden who allegedly made the film during a visit to Ireland.
Ms Wright said she had sent a copy of the video to Minister for the Environment John Gormley, asking him to investigate.
