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Act is valid
DOES the dismissal of the case against Percy huntsman Robert McCarthy make the Hunting Act any less valid?
This case may have collapsed due to insufficient evidence, although the court heard detailed eye-witness evidence of an "extremely frightened" fox in an exhausted state chased in and out of a gorse patch and it is not clear whether the huntsman stopped or incited the hounds.
Around 70 individuals have been convicted under the Hunting Act since it came into force and more are awaiting trial. For example, a South Dorset Hunt terrier man is standing trial on a charge of interfering with badger setts, an offence for which a Percy huntsman received a nine-month conditional discharge two years ago.
When 75 per cent of the population (including 75 per cent of rural dwellers) support the Hunting Act and on all objective evidence, the unjustified suffering inflicted for sport fully justifies the ban.
Making pre-General Election promises to repeal the act if the Conservatives get into power is futile. In any case, 59 per cent of Conservative voters support the Hunting Act.
Would reviving fox hunting appeal to voters preoccupied with health care, affordable housing and similar issues?
Katherine Watson,
Bramhall, Stockport
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Weather for Northumberland
Friday 25 May 2012
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