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Injunction allowing hare coursing resume would 'usurp' Oireachtas, judge rules

Summary

In a written judgment dated 25 January 2021, Justice Niamh Hyland refused to grant the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) an injunction that would have allowed hare coursing to resume during Level 5 Covid‑19 restrictions. The court held that it lacked jurisdiction to issue a mandatory injunction directing the Minister for Health to permit coursing, arguing that such an order would usurp the exclusive function of the Oireachtas and compel the Minister to act outside his powers. Justice Hyland noted the severity of the pandemic, the risk to public health, and the potential for harm to life if 36 coursing meetings with up to 3,000 participants were held. She also considered the ICC's efforts to be Covid‑19 compliant and the financial losses to breeders and trainers, but concluded that the balance of convenience favoured dismissing the injunction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Injunction allowing hare coursing resume would 'usurp' Oireachtas, judge rules. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• Christmas Other
• Christmas Eve Other
• 2021-01-25 Publication

Why: The ICC sought the injunction, as part of its action against the Ministers for Health and Housing and Local Government and Heritage, because of the limited time left before the end coursing season ends. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report