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Dáil Hears of Pike Hill hen heist

The Dáil was treated to a dramatic tale of rural woe this week, as Deputy Danny Healy-Rae recounted the plight of a Pike Hill farmer who lost eleven out of twelve hens to a cunning fox.
Speaking during a debate on the Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill 2025, Deputy Healy-Rae painted a vivid picture of a fox-ravaged countryside. He claimed foxes were "all over the place," invading towns, ransacking bins, and, most importantly, decimating poultry populations.
He cited the Pike Hill farmer's misfortune as a prime example of the fox menace, suggesting that the animals were engaged in a campaign of avian abduction.
Deputy Healy-Rae also defended fox hunting, praising gun club members for their "respectable" and "traditional" efforts in controlling the fox population.
He urged government members to consider the impact of the proposed bill on rural voters, particularly hill farmers in South Kerry, who, he argued, rely on lambs for their livelihood. Deputy Healy-Rae concluded by stating his opposition to the bill and his intention to call for a vote.