Countryside Alliance loses pigeon appeal -

[willie reynolds]

The Countryside Alliance has lost its appeal against a pigeon fancier being awarded damages for the alleged slaughter of his birds by hunting dogs.

Senior judges in Belfast rejected arguments that the killing of 59 racing birds by hounds from a local hunt club never happened.

Lawyers for the Alliance suggested pigeon racer Maurice Weir, from County Armagh, had fabricated the story.

Mr Weir said he was happy "that it's been dismissed as tittle-tattle".

In 2016, Mr Weir was awarded £59,580 in damages, with a further £2,500 for distress and injury to feelings, for the loss of his pigeons.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-39890306