Double blow to cruel "sport" of hare coursing

international | miscellaneous | news report Friday March 23, 2012 19:27 by Anti Blood Sports

Double blow to hare coursing as Specsavers AND Diageo dissociate themselves from the practise...their banners will never again be displayed on Limerick racecourse when hare coursing take place on that venue...this development comes soon after coursing fans were caught attempting to rig an online opinion poll to boost the perceived level of public support for the cruel practise

The net is closing on hare coursing in Ireland

Following two information items from Irish Council Against Blood Sports Website (March 23rd 2012)

Specsavers removes banner from Limerick Racecourse
23 March 2012

Specsavers has been thanked for requesting the removal of an ad banner from coursing venue, Limerick Racecourse. The move follows an ICABS appeal in which we highlighted appalling cruelty to hares during a coursing meet there last month.

Specsavers' Crescent Shopping Centre branch in Dooradoyle was contacted after the banner was spotted on display during the so-called Irish Cup coursing weekend last month.

A spokesperson told ICABS in a letter that they neither "promote nor condone any activity that involves cruelty to animals" and that they are "deeply shocked - and deeply upset - that Specsavers is even remotely associated with the event in question".

They further stated that they asked the racecourse management why their hoarding was used without their permission at the coursing meet, given that the last event they had sponsored at the racecourse was a Ladies Day in 2008.

The advertising banner has now been taken down, at Specsavers' request. ICABS very much welcomes this positive response.

Diageo to contact Limerick Racecourse about banner removal
23 March 2012

The Head of Corporate Communications at Diageo Ireland has assured ICABS that they do not support or condone hare coursing. Rhonda Evans was responding to an ICABS appeal for a Guinness advertising banner to be removed from any future coursing events at Limerick Racecourse.

In an email, we told Diageo that the Guinness banner was in-situ for the entire weekend of coursing held last month at the Racecourse. We brought to the company's attention video footage showing hares being hit and mauled by greyhounds at the venue.

We understand that the sponsorship department of Diageo will be in contact with the management of Limerick Racecourse regarding the withdrawal of the banner.

Specsavers has also told ICABS that they have requested the removal of their banner.