Sir, - A perverse thanks must go to the Ward Union Staghunt for holding their regular hunts since 1989 without a licence and for inadvertently generating undesirable (from their point of view) publicity as a result. The truth is out and we now know that:
1.The Ward Union Staghunt were hunting illegally for over seven years;
2.The Minister has rewarded their blatant disregard for the law by granting the Hunt a new licence;
3.The Hunt is a benign affair from which the stags derive as much fun and enjoyment as the pursuing hunters on horseback;
4.The stag is bred specifically for the Hunt and has no other role in life other than to be chased for up to one-and-a-half hours at a time by a pack of hounds closely followed by hunters on horseback;
5.Unable to flee any further due to extreme exhaustion, the terrified stag is brought back to base to wait another day of fun and enjoyment.
Can someone explain why our so-called civilised society not only tolerates this cruel and totally unnecessary activity but legislates in favour of its continuance?
This aspiring politician is making a simple promise here and now should I ever be in a position to introduce legislation - and the notion may not be as unlikely as it may seem - to ban fox and stag hunting, I will be placing a ban on these cruel activities near the top of my legislative agenda. - Yours, etc.,
Environment Spokesman, Candidate in Dublin South Constituency, Green Party, 5A Upper Fownes Street, Dublin 2.