Animal group in row over stance on blood sports

An animal welfare group accused of supporting blood sports claimed last night that a row over the issue had been "blown out of all proportion".

The Kildare Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been enveloped in controversy since before Christmas when two senior members resigned over its attitude to blood sports.

The ISPCA, to which the KSPCA is affiliated, is to meet the Kildare body next week to clarify its stance on the issue. The resignations of the organisation's secretary, Ms Geraldine O'Hanlon, and inspector, Mr Paul Dempsey, followed the circulation of a fund-raising letter by the KSPCA which stated it was not opposed to "field sports".

The ISPCA chief executive, Mr Ciaran O'Donovan, said the association's constitution stated it was opposed to blood sports, and all bodies affiliated to the ISPCA were required to have that policy. This opposition extended to all blood sports, whether legal or illegal, he added.

Following its meeting with the KSPCA next week, the ISPCA would make a decision in relation to its membership, he said.

The chairwoman of the KSPCA, Mrs Kitty O'Brien, declined to comment in detail in advance of a meeting of her organisation on Saturday. "All I can say is the whole thing has been completely blown out of proportion. There is a difference between our two constitutions [KSPCA's and ISPCA's] which has to be sorted out."

The Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports said yesterday it was appalled at the KSPCA's attitude. "CACS believes that it would be better for animals if the Kildare SPCA were disbanded altogether," it said.

The KSPCA was also criticised by the Association of Hunt Saboteurs, which claimed the Kildare group was a sham.

However, Mr O'Donovan said the ISPCA would make its own decision and would not be influenced by anyone else.