A Waterford Sinn Féin councillor has apologised after a voice message discussing the party’s position on hunting and hare coursing was widely circulated.
Pictured above: (L to R) Paul Murphy TD and Ruth Coopinger TD joins protesters outside Leinster House, Dublin to campaign for Hare Coursing to be banned. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
Cllr. Jim Griffin was speaking to WLR’s Damien Tiernan after the contents of the message were reported in the Daily Mail, which claimed Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald did not want further motions on hunting brought before the party’s Ard Fheis.
During the interview, Mr. Griffin said the message had originally been sent to a small number of people who had asked him to engage with them on the party’s stance on fox hunting and hare coursing. He said he believed the information had been shared in confidence before it was circulated more widely.
Cllr. Jim Griffin
‘I assumed when it was given to me that it was for general circulation and I shared it – and I shouldn’t have,’ Mr. Griffin told WLR, apologising for sending the message.
The controversy comes amid growing debate within Sinn Féin over animal welfare policy.
At the party’s Ard Fheis in April, members narrowly voted to support a ban on hunting foxes with hounds for leisure. However, Sinn Féin’s agriculture spokesperson Martin Kenny recently confirmed the party would oppose a People Before Profit Bill seeking to ban hare coursing, arguing that prohibition could force the activity underground.
During his interview, Mr. Griffin insisted fox hunting and hare coursing should be treated as separate issues.
He said the Ard Fheis motion related specifically to fox hunting with hounds and not hare coursing, adding that he personally would favour regulation over outright bans.
The Waterford councillor also confirmed he personally supports the continuation of regulated hare coursing and fox hunting, describing fox hunting as a ‘rural pursuit’ rather than a sport. He argued that any changes should come through consultation and regulation rather than prohibition.
Mr. Griffin also rejected claims that he had personally spoken to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, despite remarks contained in the leaked voice message.
He told WLR he had intended to refer to information relayed to him by another party member, saying any suggestion that he himself had spoken directly to the party leader was incorrect.
The councillor said he had not faced any disciplinary action from the party and reiterated that while members are entitled to differing views, he respects the democratic decisions made at Sinn Féin’s Ard Fheis.
