Friday, November 19, 2004

UK Bans Fox Hunting -- Court Challenges Now

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From The News Letter of Northern Ireland, Nov, 19. 2004:

Fury As Hunting Ban Finally Becomes Law


A ban on fox hunting will be in place by February 2005 causing outrage among Ulster's Countryside Alliance.

Commons Speaker Michael Martin last night told MPs the Parliament Act was being used for only the fourth time since 1949 - a move sparked by peers who earlier rejected a ban on hunting with dogs.

The bill was then given Royal-Assent, bringing to an end years of wrangling.

Countryside Alliance Ireland Chief Executive, Ronan Gorman, said the Prime Minister and the Government have allowed MPs to enact prejudiced,-discriminatory and divisive-legislation to ban hunting.

"The Labour Party has refused to accept a sensible solution to this issue and has abandoned its stated position that legislation would only be based on principle and evidence.

"It is imperative that people do not see this as the end of the campaign in England and Wales. It is not. It is the beginning of stage two. The Alliance-will now launch its challenge-to the validity of the 1949 Parliament Act. Our case centres on the argument that the 1949 Act was not properly passed and the Hunting Act is therefore unlawful.

"Mr Gorman said the second legal case will contend that the Hunting Bill infringes human rights under the European Convention.

As well as fox hunting, deerhunting and hare-coursing with dogs will now be outlawed in England and Wales.

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