British fox hunters lose appeal in court

By AP

LONDON -- Supporters of fox hunting lost their appeal against Britain's ban yesterday.

The Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling that the ban on killing prey with dog packs in England and Wales did not breach the European Convention on Human Rights or European trading and employment laws.

Master of the Rolls Anthony Clarke, Lord Justice Henry Brooke and Lord Justice Richard Buxton said the 2004 Hunting Act was a "legitimate and proportionate" exercise of government powers.

The courts have already dismissed the constitutional challenge to the ban on fox hunting, deer hunting and hare coursing with dogs in England and Wales.

The Countryside Alliance, which mounted the court challenge, called the legislation "a divisive sectarian measure" which could ruin the livelihoods of thousands whose jobs depend on hunting.

The case involved the law covering England and Wales.