Madam, - Philip Kiernan's piece supporting a ban on fox-hunting (Head to Head, January 28th) put me in mind of some obscure and blood-soaked gothic melodrama. While his ability to spin a yarn would put Bram Stoker to shame, his arguments against hunting quickly collapse when subjected to any kind of subjective assessment.
Mr Kiernan describes, in salivating detail, the gory end of an imaginary fox as if this were a regular occurrence, without bothering to mention that many hunts end with the fox escaping. He refers repeatedly to the blood-thirsty boasting of hunters in an anecdotal vein reminiscent of the I-heard-it-down-the-pub school of journalism. He claims "eminent ecologists" agree that the fox is blameless in the death of livestock. Who are these eminent ecologists? He refers to "increasing numbers of farmers" being anti-hunting, yet provides no figures to support this assertion. And on it goes.
In short, he relies on exaggeration, hearsay and bombastic language to get his message across. Country sports are evil and we'll just have to take his word for it.
The reality is that foxes have no natural predator in this country, which is why man must step in and control their numbers. To do otherwise would be to allow foxes suffer the effects of rampant overpopulation - death by starvation and disease. Fox-hunting is the most efficient and humane way of ensuring the balance of nature is maintained, with sick and old animals culled while the healthy survive. Since hunting was banned in Britain farmers and landowners have had to shoot, snare, poison and gas foxes in vastly increased numbers. Is this what Mr Kiernan wants?
The campaign to proscribe country sports in Ireland has wider implications for all of us. It is the most visible aspect of a small band of extremists and their sinister campaign to subvert the natural order and put the rights of animals on an equal footing with the rights of human beings. They will not be content with an end of hunting, shooting and fishing. They are already campaigning to have circuses and zoos closed.
Consider the family dog chained up at home when his owners are elsewhere, the cattle transported in lorries to abattoirs to be made into hamburgers, racehorses that die jumping fences. Will all this unpleasant, yet no less vital human-animal interaction be banned one day too?
Mr Kiernan alleges the majority want country sports made illegal. I suspect if the undecided had closer acquaintance with the facts rather than purple prose, sense would prevail. As a nation we should nonetheless be wary of the tyranny of the majority. We now live in an open, multicultural society that has been immeasurably enriched by a tolerance of diversity and an acceptance of minorities.
Hunting in Ireland should be celebrated as an expression of freedom, a great tradition and a way of life for many country people. In this context the voices of intolerance must not be allowed to prevail. - Yours, etc,
PHILIP DONNELLY,
Lower Hodgestown,
Donadea,
Naas,
Co Kildare.