ARAN ‘BLOODY HANDS’ PROTEST CALLS ON JOHN GORMLEY TO BAN HARECOURSING AND TO REFUSE LICENCES

Animal Rights Action Network staged a highly visual and lively demonstration outside the offices of Department of Environment in Dublin to call on Green Party minister, John Gormley not to renew hare coursing license for the upcoming season and to ban the bloodsport outright.

In attendance were up to sixty members and supporters along with our colleagues from the Irish Council Against Bloodsports (ICABS) and independent TD Maureen O Sullivan – friend and colleague of the fierce bloodsport opponent late independent TD Tony Gregory along with his brother Noel. Several ARAN members also had their hands covered in ‘blood’ whilst holding signs that read ‘Minister John Gormley – You’ve Got Blood on Your Hands’ and ‘Minister John Gormley – You Can’t Licence Animal Cruelty’ – others held a huge banner that read, ‘Ban Bloodsports in Ireland Now!! – You Can’t Licence Animal Abuse’, whilst three campaigners went on a loud megaphone chanting – ‘John Gormley, Ban Hare Coursing’. Many members came from Limerick, Tipperary, Wicklow, Kildare, Mullingar, Meath and all over Dublin to attend the demonstration. The event was also covered by the press with five photographers and Dublin’s 98fm, 4fm, RTE 1 radio and more. The protest was also covered by Ireland’s most prominent newspaper the Irish Times.

For those who could not make it we’ve caught some footage early on in the demonstration for you to see, click here.

Click here to listen to an exciting interview from longtime ARAN member Thomas Janak who interviewed attendees about their feelings on animal cruelty and Harecoursing.

Animal Rights Action Network will be working hard over the coming weeks to pressure John Gormley not to issue new hare coursing license and will work around the clock highlighting the cruelty associated with hare coursing. ARAN would like to pay a special thanks to our members and supporters who make our work happen and of course for the many that turned out for our demonstration today. We’d also like to praise the huge amount of loyal ARAN members who could not make it for various reasons, but continue to support our work in countless other ways. ARAN would also specifically like to thank a special group of supporters that donate their hard earned money to ARAN that allows us to organize big events like this and much more, without which we would not be able to do. Again it goes to show that your support really does make a huge difference.

Please email John Gormley now and ask him not to renew hare coursing licences and to ban the blood sport outright, email minister@environ.ie