Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Hare courser ‘reliving youth’
A MAN twice caught hare coursing claimed he was “trying to relive his youth”.
James McConnachie, 54, from Dundee, was spotted unleashing lurcher dogs in farm fields in a bid to hunt down hares.
At one point, McConnachie tried to hide his car behind a large hay bale after he realised he had been seen by a gamekeeper.
Sheriff Alison Michie ordered McConnachie to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work in the community after he admitted two charges of attempted hare coursing. She said: “You pled guilty to two offences occurring on two dates. Both were on farmland quite a distance from your home address. I accept no animal was killed or harmed, but I think that was good fortune rather than anything else, as the risk of that happening was very present.”
She told him she would not take the dogs away from him after being assured it was only his wife who now takes them out for walks.
McConnachie admitted trying to kill or injure wild hares at South Tarbrax Farm, Forfar, on May 17, and Ballindarg Farm, Kirriemuir, on February 1.
Fiscal depute Christine Allen told Dundee Sheriff Court: “A witness observed the accused in a field hare coursing.
“She saw him with two lurcher dogs and observed him filming. He was filming one of the dogs running after a hare. He was later arrested. His mobile phone was found, discarded at the side of the road.”
She added: “The second (incident) was witnessed by two gamekeepers.
“They saw a silver vehicle in the field. They saw a lurcher being released from the vehicle and starting to chase a hare.
“The vehicle was then driven to the top of the field and hidden behind a large hay bale.”
Solicitor Jim Laverty, defending, said: “There is a significant degree of remorse expressed by him. He accepts he abused the right to roam and indicates this was an attempt to relive his youth.”