Stop our farmyards becoming graveyards

Sir — Much has been written about the high number of deaths on Irish farms and how it appears that, despite several health and safety campaigns, the Irish farm is proving to be an exceptionally dangerous workplace.

To extend this issue beyond human welfare, the Irish farm is also a very hazardous area for the non-human members of our society.

Each year thousands of wild animals are injured and killed on Irish farms by hunters.

Adding to this is the death of humans and farm animals in hunting accidents.

The animal-killing total is simply staggering. Legal cover provided by the laws of the land allow the killing to take place without fear of prosecution.

Irish landowners hold the right to life over wild animals. Without their permission, hunting cannot take place within a legal structure.

The fact that a farmer gives permission to allow hunting on his/her land — thus inviting inconvenience, property destruction and arrogance of privilege from those wrapped up in a hunting jacket on to their land begs the question; does the farmer deserve sympathy when hunting activity descends into criminal damage?

Having allowed the hunt to kill wildlife renders a farmer just as guilty of animal abuse as those following their primeval urge to kill.

Irish farmers, in the main, are no friends of the environment and the non-human members it contains.

Their role in causing the deaths of many thousands of wildlife on their farms merits a dark entry in the history of Irish farming.

In short, the Irish farm is perilous — for humans and nonhumans.

The actions of taking more care when working on a farm and refusing hunting permission would go a long way to ending the suffering and death.

Avoidance is needed to stop the farm gate becoming a graveyard gate. John Tierney Campaigns Director, Association of Hunt Saboteurs, PO Box 4734, Dublin 1