2019 Local Election Candidates and Animal Cruelty Issues – Meath

The views of 2019 Local Election Candidates (Meath) in relation to animal cruelty issues. Please support compassionate candidates and reject those who defend animal cruelty.

Cllr Brian Fitzgerald (Independent, Meath County Council, Ratoath)
“Cllr Brian Fitzgerald said stag-hunting had been part of life in the county for a very long time. The object of stag-hunting was not to go out and kill the stag, he said.” from “Majority of Meath cllrs vote to reverse stag-hunting ban”, Nenagh Guardian, 11th January, 2012.

Cllr Wayne Ford (Independent, Meath County Council, Navan)
“I am against hare coursing and foxhunting.” from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.

Cllr Joe Fox (Fine Gael, Meath County Council, Trim)
On his Facebook page, Cllr Joe Fox “likes” the Meath Hunt.

Cllr Wayne Harding (Fianna Fail, Meath County Council, Laytown-Bettystown)
“I am calling on this Council to request Minister Jimmy Deenihan to reverse the ban on Stag Hunting with immediate effect as promised by both Fine Gael and Labour prior to the General Election”. The motion was proposed by Councillor Tommy Reilly and seconded by Councillor Wayne Harding. From the minutes of Meath County Council’s January 2012 meeting.

Cllr Sharon Keogan (Independent, Meath County Council, Laytown-Bettystown)
In a Meath Hunt gallery on her Facebook page, photographs show Cllr Sharon Keoghan posing next to mounted members of Meath Hunt in 2011.

Cllr Nick Killian (Independent, Meath County Council, Ratoath)
In 2010, Nick Killian criticised Green Party efforts to ban the cruel Ward Union deerhunt. In a statement published on his website, Killian stated: “As a Fianna Fail member I am disgusted that a Fianna Fail Government is allowing Gormley and his gang of do gooders walk all over the people of Rural Ireland. Its not just the Stag hunting ban, but the Dog Breeding Bill and the banning of Turf Cutting on certain Bogs to protect a few flowers.”

In the Irish Times of 15 December 2009, Nick Killian was quoted as saying that he was “disgusted” with Fianna Fail for supporting a banning of the cruel Ward Union hunt. He made the comment at a pro-hunt meeting at Trim Castle Hotel.

At a Meath County Council meeting in December 2007, Nick Killian called on the Minister for the Environment to “make a decision on the issue of a licence to the Ward Union Hunt”.

Cllr Gerry O’Connor (Fine Gael, Meath County Council, Ratoath)
“I am opposed to all forms of animal cruelty. I support Minister Coveney in regards the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. I understand that people are passionate about legitimate field sports but want clear standards to protect animal welfare and ensure that these sports are carried out in a proper manner.” from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Tommy Reilly (Fianna Fail, Meath County Council, Navan)
“I am calling on this Council to request Minister Jimmy Deenihan to reverse the ban on Stag Hunting with immediate effect as promised by both Fine Gael and Labour prior to the General Election”. The motion was proposed by Councillor Tommy Reilly and seconded by Councillor Wayne Harding. From the minutes of Meath County Council’s January 2012 meeting.

Cllr Alan Tobin (Fine Gael, Meath County Council, Ashbourne)
“No – I would not support [a council motion expressing support for a ban on bloodsports]” In response to correspondence from ICABS, September 2014.

“The hunt is a spectacle not to be missed…I remember as a child being brought down to Frederick St. on Stephen’s afternoon by my parents, and relatives would come to visit on that day too, they loved to see the hunt and experience the country way of life.” from a Forum newspaper article (December 2013) in which Ashbourne Chamber of Commerce President Alan Tobin reportedly said that Ashbourne would welcome the Ward Union hunt with open arms.

Seamus McMenamin (Green Party, Navan)
The Green Party is in favour of a ban on bloodsports, including fox hunting, hare coursing, hare hunting and mink hunting. It also supports a ban on fur farming and an end to the Department of Agriculture’s cruel snaring and killing of badgers. See the party’s full animal welfare policy document at https://www.greenparty.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Green-Party-Animal-Welfare-Policy_June-20151.pdf

William Lacey (People Before Profit, Laytown-Bettystown)
People Before Profit’s Animal Welfare policies include: Introduce a complete ban on the hunting of wild mammals with hounds, Introduce a complete ban on coursing live hares, Ban fur farming and End badger culling by traps, snares and shooting – http://www.pbp.ie/policies/animal-welfare-policy/

Social Democrats candidates
Paul Nolan (Social Democrats)
Rob Corr (Social Democrats)
Amy McGrath (Social Democrats)
Ronan Moore (Social Democrats)

The Social Democrats are in favour of a ban on fox hunting, hare coursing and fur farming. The party’s animal welfare policy states: “The Social Democrats strongly advocate animal rights and recognise animals as intelligent, sentient beings capable of complex thought and of experiencing pain and suffering…We are in favour of harsher penalties for animal cruelty” See the full policy at https://www.socialdemocrats.ie/our-policies/

See the full list of Meath candidates at
https://www.rte.ie/news/elections-2019/2019/0508/1048219-meath-county-council/

Find out the views of candidates in other constituencies
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/04/24/2019-election-and-animal-cruelty-issues

Find out the views of European election candidates
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/european-election-candidates-and-animal-cruelty-issues/

If you are a candidate and wish to provide a statement outlining your views on animal cruelty issues, please email it to us at info@banbloodsports.com