As the new hare coursing season begins, Queen legend Brian May has denounced Irish hare coursing in a tweet as "a disgusting 'so-called' sport that belongs in history."
He was responding to pictures of hares in captivity at the Edenderry coursing venue in Co. Offaly.
Over the coming months, thousands of hares will be forced to run from hyped-up greyhounds and a percentage will be mauled, pinned to the ground, tossed into the air, or otherwise injured within the confines of a wire enclosed field.
A disgusting 'so-called' sport. Belongs in history. Let's keep fighting for decency, folks. Long road. But ... Bri https://t.co/WHuERFdnOt
— Dr. Brian May (@DrBrianMay) October 4, 2015
Those that make it uninjured through the escape hatch will only have "escaped" back into captivity to be coursed again.
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports have released the video below to aid their campaign to end hare coursing in Ireland.