Madam, - I am writing to express my revulsion at the recent slaughter of seals and their pups at Beginish on the Blasket Islands. As a regular visitor to the Dingle area, I am horrified to think such an appalling act was perpetrated in such a beautiful area, on such unsuspecting and vulnerable creatures. This episode will no doubt damage tourism, as most people would not wish to visit an area that is tarnished with such brutality.
I realise that blaming the local fishermen without absolute proof will do no good at all. However, as the perpetrators had, at the very least, a very good knowledge of the area, tides and seal breeding times, a finger may certainly be pointed at the fishing fraternity, especially as it is well-known that past requests for seal-culls have been refused.
As the owner of a holiday home in the area I find the prospect of eating fish in any of the numerous excellent seafood restaurants in the region, or contributing to the economy of a community that harbours such violent people, has become tainted by the horror perpetrated on Begenish.
I urge the agencies involved to double their efforts to catch those responsible, and at the very least, that some form of protection be afforded to these creatures at and around their breeding time. - Yours, etc.
RUTH O'SULLIVAN, Farranlea Park, Model Farm Road, Cork.
Madam, - Seals are intelligent creatures. Pigs, too. Seals feel pain. So do pigs.
Seals are free to swim freely (when they're not being slaughtered), to hunt, to procreate naturally, to fully express their "sealness". Pigs are not free to roam freely, to forage, to procreate naturally, to express their "pigness".
Seals are a protected species. Pigs are confined in windowless sheds, have their teeth crushed to the gum when they are born, have their tails clipped, are packed off to the slaughterhouse when they're about six months old.
A nation mourns for slaughtered seals. The same nation sits down to rashers and sausages while listening to news of slaughtered seals. - Yours, etc.,
GERRY BOLAND, Animals in Crisis, Keadue, Co Roscommon.