Green Party MLA Brian Wilson was in Newry, Newcastle and other parts of South Down on Thursday canvassing for Cllr Cadogan Enright the Green Party candidate in South Down in the upcoming elections when news of the rendering of a small pet dog by a local hunts hounds made headlines around the province.
Speaking to environmentalists in Newcastle Brian confirmed that he was bringing forward a bill to ban hunting animals in NI with hounds in the next few weeks and was in the final stages of moving the Order in Stormont.
South Down Green Party members and local environmentalists commended Brian and his staff for their work in bringing this bill forward.
Cllr Cadogan Enright welcomed this timely development and said “This latest incident highlights yet again the barbarous nature of hunting animals with dogs, and it is long overdue to have this legislation implemented in NI. The Green Party in the Republic succeeded in having the ROI government agree to ban Stag Hunting 2 months ago. This means only Northern Ireland is left in these Islands as the area where no restrictions on hunting packs really exist on the ground. We need to move this “sport” in NI over to drag-hunting using false scent and end live animal hunting.”
Green Party candidate Cadogan Enright continued, “Northern Ireland seems to becoming the centre for this sort of barbarity now that England, Scotland and Wales have brought in restrictions. In the last 18 months in Down District Green activists have reported criminals operating in South Down digging up badgers for dog-fighting in East Belfast and a dog pack dedicated to hunting otters from the Republic operating in the area too.”
“Only the Green Party will bring a serious approach to animal welfare in Government in NI. The other parties in NI tolerate such activities to placate interested groups.” Concluded Cllr Cadogan Enright.
In the DOWN District Area the East Down Hunt is the main hunt which engages in active Blood Sports. On their website you can see images of them chasing foxes in the local area – www.eastdownhunt.co.uk/gallery
