Gabriel Byrne has spoken out against the cruelty of the “sport” of hare coursing.
Ireland is the one of the last three EU countries that still practice the netting and capturing of hares for muzzled greyhounds to chase in competition.
According to the Irish Sun, Gabriel wrote, “It’s hard to imagine anything more barbaric than this so-called ‘sport’.”
Ban: Gabriel urges Irish TDs to ban hare coursing | VIPIRELAND.COM
Coursing isn’t about the capturing of the hare, but a test for the dogs on their ability to run, overtake, and terrorise the hare.
The Dublin native wrote to Irish TDs to urge them to outlaw this practice and described the terrible internal harm hares endure.
“From the terrifying chase, during which hares have been known to rupture internal organs fleeing the hounds, to the moment the petrified and exhausted animals are surrounded,” he wrote in his letter.
Petrified: The actor revealed that torture that the animals go through | VIPIRELAND.COM
In his letter, Gabriel admitted that he was writing to the TDs on behalf of “friends” in two animal rights activist groups, PETA and ARAN.
“Every minute of hare coursing reflects the hard-heartedness of the participants,” the Golden Globe winner wrote.
“Coursing is an atrocity that should have no place in modern Ireland, which is why it should be banned.”
