Legal action against hunt after horrific stag slaying?

23 March 1998

Legal action against hunt after ‘horrific’ stag slaying?

THE League Against Cruel Sports is considering legal action against the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, which killed an exhausted stag within yards of safety of the Baronnsdown sanctuary, near Dulverton, last week.

The animal-rights group claims the hounds trespassed on its land during the four-hour chase on Exmoor. It plans to shame MPs who filibustered Mike Fosters anti-hunting bill by sending them videos of the incident.

The hunt claims it was “a normal days hunting” conducted correctly. Hunt officials say league members had driven the stag back on to hunt land when they ran into the River Exe shouting.

Meanwhile, two huntsmen were injured and 21 protesters arrested after clashes between saboteurs and riders at a meeting of the Wendover Hunt near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, at the weekend.

The Daily Telegraph reports how hunt follower Roderick Wilson, 39, was allegedly set upon by balaclava-wearing saboteurs wielding metal bars and wooden clubs. He was recovering from facial surgery yesterday.

• The Guardian 23/03/98 page 4
  
• The Times 23/03/98 page 10
  
• The Daily Telegraph 23/03/98 page 3