Ward Union Hunt Causes havoc in Co Meath

national | animal rights | press release Wednesday January 24, 2007 23:40 by Association of Hunt Saboteurs

Risk to Children from Stag Hunt.

We refer to the risk to young schoolchildren and adults that occurred today in Co Meath as covered by the Joe Duffy Show (Liveline) today . The major incident occurred when a Stag ran riot into a school yard whilst being chased by houndsand huntsmen belonging to the Ward Union Hunt Club.

‘ This animal later dropped dead from the stress and injuries sustained in the days hunting’.according to accounts on the programme.’
[ed note by 1 of indymedia. It has been brought to our attention that the stag mentioned in this story did not die and is alive and well as verified by a Department of Agriculture vet.]

We refer to the risk to young schoolchildren and adults that occurred today in Co Meath as covered by the Joe Duffy Show (Liveline) today . Themajor incident occurred when a Stag ran riot into a school yard whilst being chased by hounds and huntsmen belonging to the Ward Union Hunt Club.

‘ This animal later dropped dead from the stress and injuries sustained in the days hunting’.according to accounts on the programme.’

School busses and traffic were ground to a halt, children were screaming and crying and people were in fear of being trampled when loose horses ran up the village street. Riders raced through the town even using the footpaths which endangered all of those trying to get their children from school. Bloodied horses with injuries were witnessed as twoanimals fell whilst being roughly ridden. One fell on the other.The stag bloodied and near death was chased on to private farms and hunt staff cut up wire and electric fences in the process of chasing the traumatised animal which later dropped dead. Farmers on the programme threatened legal action to Oliver Russel Spokesperson of the Ward union.

This wasn’t the first incident involving Irelands only staghunt. Two years ago they were confronted by Lady Dunsany with a shotgun when they trespassed on her sanctuary, previously Pat Kenny covered an incident where the stag was trapped in barbed wire during a hunt being covered by RTE. The Hunts representative blatently lied on that occasion and said the stag was fine. He later admitted the lie on radio.

‘AOHS now issue renewed calls for a ban on this disgusting , barbaric sport of Irelands upper class hoodlums. If a member of the public let a dog loose they are fined,yet the Ward Union can cause havoc with impunity .

The Bailey brothers are prominent in the hunt and Charlie Haughey was a member.

Bernie Wright.

087 2651720.

Oliver Russel 01 8350988 Spokesperson W U. H
[ed note by 1 of indymedia. It has been brought to our attention that the stag mentioned in this story did not die and is alive and well as verified by a Department of Agriculture vet.]