HSE West denies newspaper's hare-coursing claims

THE HSE West has denied media reports that service users at a Mayo centre for people with disabilities are involved in the controversial sport of hare-coursing.

A report in today’s Irish Daily Mail alleged the hare-coursing was facilitated by Ballina Training Centre, which provides services and programmes for people with intellectual disabilities.

A spokesman for the Irish Council Against Blood Sports has called for the project to cease immediately.

He stated the idea of bringing vulnerable people to hare-coursing meetings to watch hares being used as live bait for greyhounds is outrageous and a totally inappropriate project for the HSE to be involved in.

In a statement issued to Midwest Radio, the HSE said the Ballina Training Centre does not, and never has, run a hare-coursing activity for its service users.

However, the HSE added it cannot comment on activities of staff or service users “during their own personal time.'