David Amess was a tireless advocate for the sentient beings that share this planet with us

A letter from John Fitzgerald, Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports:
Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

Sir David Amess’s murder has robbed humanity of a decent man, but if animals could speak they too might lament his tragic passing.

He was a longtime supporter of campaigns to ease the plight of non-humans.

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His tireless advocacy for the sentient beings that share this planet with us recalled the life our own Richard Martin (Humanity Dick), the 19th century MP for Galway whose efforts led to the world’s first laws to protect animals.

Mr Amess highlighted the cruelty of puppy farming, fur farming and badger culling and in 1988 he championed a bill that banned the inhumane tethering of horses, donkeys and mules.

As a patron of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation he helped to raise awareness of the suffering caused to animals for human amusement.

He spoke out against hare coursing decades before it was finally banned in Britain in 2004.

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In 1998 he sponsored a parliamentary motion that ripped apart the pathetic arguments in favour of the practice and made a passionate plea of behalf of the gentlest creature in the countryside.

He consistently opposed foxhunting too even when many other Tory MPs supported it and rode to hounds themselves.

Our own politicians could take a cue from this worthy parliamentarian by taking a stand for the animals and backing campaigns to end organized cruelty dressed up as “sport”.

RIP Sir David Amess MP, a man who walked in the footsteps of St Francis.

Thanking you,

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John Fitzgerald, Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports, Co Kilkenny

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