Hunt duo in court again accused of illegal foxhunting

The case involving Huntsman John ‘Ollie’ Finnegan and his whipper-in at the time, Rhys Matcham, was due to be heard this week but just a short hearing took place and a new date was set for August 24 and 25, at Loughborough Magistrates’ Court.

The men were charged following an investigation by Leicestershire Police, based on evidence obtained by professional investigators from the League Against Cruel Sports, who were monitoring the hunt from Breedon-on-the-Hill, in Leicestershire, on February 4 last year.

Finnegan, who is still employed by the Quorn Hunt, and Matcham - now whipper-in at the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt - must both answer a charge of hunting a wild mammal with a dog contrary to Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.