Down farmers raise concerns over hunting with dogs

The event was organised by the League Against Cruel Sports and held at the Downshire Civic Centre, Downpatrick with help from Alliance Councillor Patrick Brown, for local farmers concerned at the havoc hunts are causing in the countryside.

Hunts have been accused of damaging property, worrying livestock and engaging in anti-social behaviour as they chase wild animals. Research shows that hunting with hounds also presents a significant biosecurity threat to livestock when hunts trample across farmland.

The farmers are growing increasingly concerned about individual terrier men and men with lurchers terrorising the countryside as they seek to hunt foxes and hares. Similarly, the farmers have reported these men to the police for making threats and behaving in an abusive manner.

Terrier work is an activity in which dogs are put underground to attack and potentially kill a wild animal while lurchers are used to chase hares and foxes at night-time.

Speaking after the event, Janice Watt, senior public affairs officer for Northern Ireland at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The farming community reached out to us due to the overwhelming amount of harassment they were experiencing from local mounted hunts, and also lurcher or terrier men trespassing on their land.

“We provided each farmer with a support pack that contained legal fact sheets regarding hunt trespass, anti-social behaviour and public order offences along with supporting materials to assist them to gather evidence efficiently, whilst also ensuring each incident is properly reported to the police.

“The reception has helped forge stronger working links between farmers and their local councillors which will enable them to work together to overcome the threat to the farming community associated with hunt havoc.”

Farmers suffering from trespass or damage to their farms were also encouraged to log any incidents and report these confidentially to the League.

Councillor Patrick Brown, Alliance Party, said: “I am pleased to support this event that provided farmers with a greater understanding of their rights regarding access to their land by hunts, and to empower them to take action, if necessary, to protect their land and livestock.

“Indeed, over the holiday period, there were a number of incidents of hunts being involved in anti-social behaviour including an arrest made of a hunt participant, so the need for this sort of event is clearer than ever. I would like to thank the League for organising it.”