MARTIN FRAWLEY (News, 7 January) described the hazards from specified breeds of dogs, as listed in statutory regulations. They provide that dogs such as the English bull terrier, doberman and alsatian be muzzled and kept on a short lead while in public places.

An alsatian which was allowed to roam freely in Dalkey-Killiney hill park recently frightened and endangered my young grandchild. The owner resented criticism and became aggressive. That hill park is an exception to the local by-law requirement that dogs be kept on leads in parks in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Council area. I understand that the stricter statutory regulations would take precedence over bylaws made by local authorities.

The debate about vicious dogs should be widened, as many dogs can be dangerous.

Information must be provided in public parks. Laws and regulations should be updated and enforced.

In the wider public interest, the local council should withdraw the much abused concession allowing dogs to roam freely in Dalkey-Killiney hill park.

Tony Quinn Dalkey Co Dublin

Fogarty has GAA/ IRFU facts all wrong

WHATEVER people's opinions about the whole issue of whether the GAA should let their stadia around the country be used for other sports, at least if you're arguing for or against the issue it's a start to get your facts right, which was not the case in the 'Two cent with? Seán Fogarty' article in the Sunday Tribune (Sport, 21 January).

He says: "We had All Irelands when we only had a crowd on one side." This is not true. There was not one All Ireland final in the years 1994-2005 that it took to redevelop Croke Park when only one side of the ground was open. There were finals in that time where one side of the ground was closed and capacity was reduced, though not as much as Mr Fogarty makes out.

He also has some conspiracy theory about the IRFU developing all their grounds at once in order to use GAA stadia for European Cup games. Again this is someone who doesn't know the facts, as even if Thomond Park and Donnybrook were not being redeveloped, Munster and Leinster would have to seek different 'home' venues as the capacity in these grounds is too small to host a European cup quarter final.

Mick Graham Clonsilla Dublin 15

Many nasty truths about hunting

FOLLOWING the vast acreage of newsprint devoted to eulogising the persecution of animals for sport, permit me to publicise some unpleasant truths. Among the reports on the hunting activities of St Stephen's Day was the savaging of an old cat in her owner's garden.

Not everyone knows that cats have been deliberately targeted by hunters.

"No man or woman ought to be allowed on the hunting field until they have read and thoroughly digested Thoughts on Hunting, " asserts Capt J Paget, introducing the 8th edition of Peter Beckford's 1951 book.

Beckford assures his readers that a cat is as good a trail as any and he refers to an old huntsman friend who trained young hounds by dragging a cat along the ground for a mile or two in front of them. Beckford outlines how he himself begins training his young hounds in August by having his huntsman release a cat before them, which they hunt up to a kill. Cat owners, you are being warned!

Never attempt to save a pet from a pack of hounds. It is recorded that hounds killed a hunt servant in Co Galway many moons ago. More recently, hounds attacked and injured a housewife in the garage of her home in Leinster.

Never fondle foxhounds either. As far back as the 1960s, foxhounds were found to be hosts of two difficult parasites - Trichinella and Echinococcus. Investigators concluded that they became infected with Trichinella as a result of killing and eating foxes caught during hunting.

Infection in humans arises from handling dogs. Sheep may also pick up the parasites from pasture which has been contaminated by the dogs.

"Like it or not, hounds are dogs, and dogs in a public place are required to be on leashes, " an Irish journalist once observed. In the time of landlordism, it was said that the poor were struck out of the protection of the law, the rich out of its penalties. The landlords are gone but their despicable attitude prevails very evidently in the hunting fraternity.

Dick Power Boherload Ballyneety Co Limerick

Minister fudges as the animals die

IT SEEMS to me that the Minister of the Environment, Dick Roche TD, has a number of serious issues to explain in the area of state-permitted abuse of animals.

For example, the harassing of deer for fun. The Ward Hunt can have just as much fun, in terms of chase, jumping and conviviality, if the minister would insist on drag hunting (mounted hunters following an artificially laid scent).

Despite hunt officials admitting that the deer "could not accurately be described as wildlife", the minister continues to licence the harassment of farmed deer under the Wildlife Act! Ordinary folk do not expect casuistry from a government minister and wonder why he is conniving with the hunt.

My understanding of minister Roche's Dáil comments is that he remains unconcerned about the fatalities to wild hares involved in coursing. It is usual to counter the concerns of environmentally concerned people by referring to the obligatory muzzle. The minister knows, of course, that savaging can and does occur despite the muzzle, and in any case many hares simply die of trauma.

Beagling is the pursuit by hounds in open country of the hare to the annoyance of those who are farmers. The farming objections to this cruel pastime are: damage to fences, invasion of private lands without permission, trampling of crops, etc.

Not least, our government ought to be on guard against Bovine TB and Foot and Mouth and Fowl Pest, for cross-boundary infection is a danger which should not be imposed upon the farming community by unthinking urban dwellers. The minister is vested with both the power and the responsibility to address this hazard.

Due to the present government embargo on employment, the ranger staff of the Wildlife Service is seriously under-strength. One wonders at the coincidence that in counties Kildare, Meath and Tipperary - where major atrocities are practised by killfor-fun folk - there are currently unfilled vacancies for rangers?

In conclusion, perhaps the minister can explain why people are prosecuted for abusing domestic animals while foxhunters and other kill-for-fun people get away scot-free with terrorising and abusing wild animals. And this despite the Wildlife Act.

We have the great good fortune to live in one of the loveliest places on earth and the minister is - only up to the forthcoming election - its official guardian.

Southern establishment stands accused

NUALAO'Loan's much-publicised report on collusion between British forces, including the police, and unionist paramilitaries has awoken many in this state to the reality that was the "nationalist nightmare" for decades. The truth and evidence has eventually leaked out - like blood from underneath a locked door!

During the dark and turbulent years, when "that troublesome northern tribe" looked south seeking help, they were largely met with either cold indifference or naked hostility. Collusion was after all an illusion - a figment of their imagination or simply "republican propaganda". The heads remained firmly in the sand.

Sections of the southern political and media establishment stand accused. I wonder if they will now be courageous enough to take responsibility for the distorted picture that was sold to an entire generation in this state. Will they now be prepared to show some understanding as to why many in the nationalist community were reluctant to join the police or give their support to the forces of "law and order"?

Fionntan O Suilleabhain Teach Ruairi Ui Chonchubhair Sraid Hardwicke Baile Átha Cliath 1