A number of men discovered hunting with dogs on a Connemara farmer’s land are to appear before the October sitting of Clifden District Court charged with offences under the Wildlife Acts.
At the September sitting of the Court Judge Fiona Lydon accepted jurisdiction of the cases and adjourned proceeding to allow statements be prepared for the defence.
The men may also be charged with other offences relating to their activity.
The Court heard that four men with four lurcher type dogs were found by a farmer on his land and they had no permission to be there. It will be alleged that the men were engaged in hunting hares, a protected species under wildlife legislation.
The farmer was concerned for his livestock as he was aware of incidents of dogs worrying sheep in the vicinity just the week before he discovered the men and dogs on his land.
The landowner contacted Clifden Gardaí and when they arrived, they found the van the men had used. The Court was told that they had no lawful reason to be on the land and also admitted they were hunting hares.
Three individuals were brought before Clifden Court and after consultation with the relevant legislation Judge Lydon accepted jurisdiction of the cases.
Hunting hares is illegal in Ireland under the 1976 Wildlife act. Hare coursing is permitted under certain strict circumstances.
