IGB faces €1.5m lawsuit after top dog is drugged

The Irish Greyhound Board is facing a €1.5m lawsuit and a demand to annul the result of the 2010 Derby final after a top dog was found to have been drugged in its care.

A statement of claim has been filed by Patrick Buckley, the trainer of Tullymurry Act.

Tullymurry Act dog was adjudged to have been given a sedative after he was presented at Shelbourne Park on the night of the 2010 final — he trailed off last.

This summer, the sport’s Control Committee agreed that there was “compelling and uncontroverted” evidence that the dog had been given the stopper drug cyclizine while in the care of the IGB.

The Control Committee said the drug could only have been in the dog’s system for a certain length of time and this meant neither Mr Buckley nor his family could not have been responsible.

This ruling was made following a two-year period in which Mr Buckley stood accused of drugging the dog.

In a High Court claim, Mr Buckley has said the negligence of the IGB on the night damaged his reputation and his business.

He said that, following the incident, his earnings as a trainer fell from more than €370,000 a year to less than €50,000. These losses have continued him for 2010, 2011, and 2012.

He also incurred up to €400,000 in legal costs in defending his case at the Control Committee. He is looking to have these recovered from the IGB.

Mr Buckley is also seeking a share of the €125,000 prize money awarded to the race winner and a declaration the result was void.

The financially troubled IGB has already spent an estimated €250,000 on the case during protracted Control Committee hearings.

In June, the Control Committee denied Mr Buckley’s application for costs on the grounds that it would deter the IGB from regulating the sport.

However, the Cappawhite trainer has asked the High Court to overturn this.

Mr Buckley’s claim has highlighted numerous cases of alleged negligence. It has also accused the IGB of a breach of trust and an abuse of process.

Neither the IGB nor Mr Buckley commented on the proceedings.

Mr Buckley’s statement of claim arrived with the IGB as the junior minister for agriculture, Tom Hayes, announced the terms of reference for a review into the industry which will include an examination of the sustainability of its debt pile.

Mr Hayes has asked companies to tender for the contract to complete the review, which will look at whether current structures appropriately and effectively serve the industry.

IGB chairman Phil Meaney said he welcomed the news and it looked “forward to working with the department and the successful bidder”.

Despite the controversies that have blighted the sport in recent years, the review will not investigate any particular incident.

* You can watch the 2010 Derby final at exa.mn/race