The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) has said it is “unaware of any objective, proportionate reasons as to why other comparable activities are permitted and coursing is not” under new Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions.

On December 2, hare coursing was included on S.I. 560/2020 of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) Regulations 2020.

This legislation is now amended, resulting in coursing not being permitted under the Level 5 status of the country. In a notice issued to those involved in hare coursing, the ICC said it is seeking clarity in respect of this amendment.

The Christmas and New Year calendar of events are disrupted because of the exclusion.

“There appears to be little appreciation of what resources and organising is involved in preparing for a coursing meeting,” the notice reads.

“The ICC set out clearly the reasons why coursing should continue similar to other comparable activities in terms of Covid-19, but we are unaware of any objective, proportionate reasons as to why other comparable activities are permitted and coursing is not.

This is clearly disconcerting for clubs in the first instance and greyhound owners secondly, that have complied fully with all Covid-19 protocols after enduring limited opportunity to run their greyhounds since the commencement of the season.

“The ICC is self-funding and it appears there is little appreciation of this fact and that we are not in a position to offer a care package similar to other state bodies.”

As an interim measure, the ICC executive committee has decided to waive coursing mating cert fees and coursing litter declaration fees, “as part of a more comprehensive suite of measures to be announced going forward”.

“Currently, we are left with the unanswered question as to why coursing was removed from the statutory instrument that is permitting other comparable activities.

“Coursing [has] been let down in a serious way and this is not to belittle the current rise in Covid-19, it is merely to highlight that the risks associated with the continuance of coursing are no greater than other comparable sports, more particular, when we only have nine weeks remaining until the end of the season.”

‘Best possible Christmas gift to the hares of Ireland’

Meanwhile, the Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports said it is “delighted” to learn that hare coursing has been suspended for the second time this season, under Covid-19 restrictions.

“This is the best possible Christmas gift to the persecuted hares of Ireland, a respite from the relentless abuse to which they have been subjected in the name of ‘sport’,” a statement from the campaign reads.

However, there is an outstanding issue that must be addressed: the hares snatched from their habitats for the now cancelled fixtures are still in captivity at venues nationwide.

The campaign is now calling for the immediate release of all hares currently held, “as there is no justification for retaining them while no coursing activity is permitted in any part of Ireland”.

“We hope that the restrictions will mean no hare coursing for the remainder of the present season,” the statement continued.

“Beyond that, we also believe that the days of hare coursing as a legal sporting activity in Ireland are numbered.”