LONDON (Reuters) - The Appeal Court on Friday dismissed a challenge from the Countryside Alliance which had argued the government's ban on hunting with dogs infringed human rights.
Three judges rejected the group's claim that the ban was not necessary in a democratic society and that it was in breach of human rights aimed at protecting the right to private and family life, peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
The challenge had been opposed by the government's legal adviser the Attorney-General and by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Dismissing the suit in a written decision the court, headed Master of the Rolls, Anthony Clarke said:
"The essence of this appeal is that the ban engages and infringes either directly or indirectly, the appellants' rights under articles 8 and 11 (rights to privacy and freedom of peaceful assembly)."
However, the judges said they did not consider either right had been infringed.
The ban, which outlaws a sport that began with the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, came into force in February 2005.
Fox-hunting activists have tried to overturn it by claiming that the law used to push it through parliament was invalid and then mounted a series of legal challenges.
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Three judges rejected the group's claim that the ban was not necessary in a democratic society and that it was in breach of human rights aimed at protecting the right to private and family life, peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
The challenge had been opposed by the government's legal adviser the Attorney-General and by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Dismissing the suit in a written decision the court, headed Master of the Rolls, Anthony Clarke said:
"The essence of this appeal is that the ban engages and infringes either directly or indirectly, the appellants' rights under articles 8 and 11 (rights to privacy and freedom of peaceful assembly)."
However, the judges said they did not consider either right had been infringed.
The ban, which outlaws a sport that began with the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, came into force in February 2005.
Fox-hunting activists have tried to overturn it by claiming that the law used to push it through parliament was invalid and then mounted a series of legal challenges.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved. | Learn more about Reuters