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Militant animal rights groups are using children to push their agenda of a meatless, petless society, a seminar on the growth of the animal rights movement was told this morning.

The seminar, Consumer Intimidation, the Vegan/Animal Rights Agenda, was organised by Gavin Duffy of the Hunting Association of Ireland, in response to what he says are increasingly intimidatory protests by animal rights activists.

Lt Col Dennis J Foster, master of the Foxhounds Association of America, told delegates from a range of professions and sporting bodies involving animals, including farmers, anglers, circuses, and the pharmaceutical industry, that militant animal rights literature was circulating in American schools.

“The animal rights movement is based on hate, fear, emotion and deception... They equate holocaust victims with animals going to slaughter, they distribute leaflets saying ’your mommy kills animals’.”

Radical US groups, such as Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) were funding the Irish animal rights movement, he said.

“If we don’t watch out they are going to take the ball from us. It’s about you getting together, to realise what they are doing to our children and do something about it.”

A group of about 30 protesters held a peaceful outside the seminar at the Ballsbridge Court (formerly Berkeley Court) hotel in Dublin yesterday. Laura Broxson of the National Animal Rights Association said the seminar was “disgusting”.

“We think these people are horrible. Everything we do is a legitimate protest and if they think we are being intimidating well then that’s a mark of our success.”

Irish Farmer Association president Pádraig Walshe had been listed as a speaker in the brochure issued to delegates, however he said yesterday he had never agreed to attend.

Mr Duffy said Mr Walsh had agreed to participate but was “scared off” by publicity surrounding the event.