Mayo TD hits out over illegal hare coursing: “Farmers left defenceless while pedigree flocks are killed”

Aontú TD for Mayo, Paul Lawless, has called for urgent government action on illegal hare coursing in rural areas of Mayo, warning that farmers are being left defenceless while gangs and their dogs roam freely across farmland, killing livestock.

Speaking at the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee this week, Deputy Lawless raised the issue of illegal hare coursing and its devastating impact on pedigree sheep flocks in the west. He was told the matter was not directly relevant to a discussion on sheep worrying but he firmly disagreed.

"This is absolutely relevant," Deputy Lawless said. "We have dogs being brought onto private farmland. Lambs are being slaughtered. Pedigree flocks are being lost. Farmers are losing income and stock with no meaningful recourse.”

Deputy Lawless said illegal hare coursing is not just an animal welfare concern, but a serious rural crime issue that threatens livelihoods and safety.

"These aren’t just isolated incidents, they’re organised, repeat offences. Farmers are waking up to find dead sheep savaged and others chased into ditches and dikes. They know exactly who’s doing it. But they also know that reporting it often leads nowhere. Where is the accountability?"

Deputy Lawless urged the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the Department of Justice to introduce robust new legislation, arguing that the existing 1986 laws are outdated and ineffective.

He called for comprehensive measures to improve dog traceability, including mandatory microchipping and the creation of a single, centralised database for all dog ownership records.

Deputy Lawless also demanded a significant increase in penalties for sheep worrying, stating that the current €300 fine fails to reflect the serious financial and emotional toll on farmers.

He emphasised the need for greater resources and specialised training for An Garda Síochána, including equipping all squad cars with dog scanning devices as standard. At present, this responsibility falls solely on dog wardens, many of whom are unavailable in rural counties, leaving large areas without proper enforcement.

“It’s time to stop treating the issue as a fringe matter and to recognise the link between illegal coursing and wider issues of rural safety and livestock loss.

"Our rural communities deserve better than to be ignored. This silence from the authorities sends the message that nothing will be done and that is simply not good enough.

“If dogs came into a housing estate and mauled pets, there would be outrage. But because it’s a field in rural Mayo, it’s dismissed. That has to change,” he said.