Sinn Féin has categorised as an attack on “the rural way of life” a ban on hare coursing in Northern Ireland by SDLP Minister of the Environment Alex Attwood, which formally came into effect as of yesterday.
Hare coursing was banned in the North on an annual temporary basis since 2003 following an order by former British Labour direct rule minister Angela Smith, but this announcement puts the prohibition on a permanent basis, according to Mr Attwood.
It makes it an offence for someone to organise, participate in or attend a hare coursing event, or to net, transport or be in possession of hares for the purpose of hare coursing.
“Hare coursing events should not take place in a modern, progressive, civilised society. We all have a responsibility to protect our wildlife, and certainly I want to do everything in my power to do that,” said Mr Attwood.
Sinn Féin Assembly member Francie Molloy said yesterday his party’s position remained that, similar to the position in the Republic, muzzled hare coursing should be allowed as long as it was properly managed and regulated. He feared the new legislation would drive hare coursing “underground”.