I hope voters will remember which Stormont MLAs stood up for the fox and hare

Anti-hunt campaigners should not be too dis-heartened by the Assembly’s rejection of John Blair’s bill.

A similar bill back in 2010 was defeated by far greater margin, so one could argue that each vote will bring closer the day when the recreational hunting and killing of wild animals will be consigned to the pages of history.

The celebrated 19th century MP for Galway, Richard Martin (Humanity Dick) had to introduce his bills to protect animals several times before the Houses of Parliament enacted even the most basic animal welfare laws.

Likewsie, many failed Private Members Bills preceded the 2004 Hunting Act in Britain that outlawed fox hunting, stag hunting, and hare coursing.

Persistence pays off.

Sinn Fein’s behaviour, however, was inexcusable. In February 2020 the party leader Mary Lou McDonald clearly stated that “Sinn Fein is opposed to fox hunting and will vote in favour of a ban”.

A whip was imposed to ensure that not one Sinn Fein MLA could vote for a measure that would have ended the infliction of immense and pointless suffering on so many foxes and hares across Northern Ireland. If only four of them had backed the bill it would have passed.

I hope voters will remember at the next election who stood up for the fox and the hare, and who gave the thumbs-down to persecuted wildlife.

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

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