THE challenges facing Hunt Clubs has increased recently due to Liberty Mutuals decision to pull out of the Irish hunting insurance sector by informing brokers that they will not be offering renewal terms as the combined liability policies fall due for renewal.

There are about 100 mounted packs in Ireland between foxhounds and harriers so this development is going to create major headaches for committees as clubs prepare for the new season.

The increasing number of claims together with significant settlement costs and legal expenses has pushed the only liability insurer to withdraw from the Irish market.

Goggin Insurances have seen personal injury claims been submitted to insurers from members, subscribers and visitors for personal injury attempting to hold the hunt, its masters and officers liable while out hunting.

John D Lyons of Goggin Insurances, Balbriggan, Co Dublin said: “This new development over the past number of years has caused UK insurers to withdraw from the Irish market. There is not one single Dublin-based insurer interested in this sector.”

It has seen cases where claimants have even attempted to sue landowners for negligence.

John, who has hunted for over 40 years with the Fingal Harriers and Louth Hunt said that the hunting community could put an end to the sport they love if this trend continues. He says the biggest threat to hunting is not the Green Party or anti-hunt saboteurs but hunting people themselves.

Personal injury pay-outs

“After years of trying to amend the personal injury pay-outs, we finally saw long overdue reforms come in to law on April 24th, 2021. The new personal injury guidelines replaces the Book of Quantum, which will hopefully result in significantly reduced pay-outs and lower legal costs.“We are aware of a claim where an amateur whip sustained a broken bone in his foot when he fell of his horse. He has initiated legal proceedings against the landowner, a hunt-friendly farmer for personal injuries with an estimate of €70,000 placed on the claim by the insurance company,” John said.

Goggin Insurances has been working on a legal disclaimer in conjunction with its solicitors which will assist hunt clubs in formulating their plans for the coming season. It is hoped this will be ready for the coming season and details of this will be published in these pages once it becomes available.