Bookies pay heavy price as gamblers take €2m in sting

BOOKIES were caught for up to €2 million after a major betting sting masterminded by a group of Kerry gamblers on a horse at Leopardstown two weeks ago.

Cashmans bookmakers in Cork paid out some €130,000 to punters while the Paddy Power chain paid out an estimated €100,000 in the coup.

John Keegan of Cashmans in Cork said there had been a run of bets on the horse, including one bet of €3,000 at 5-1, two of €2,000 at 6-1, and two of €1,500 at 5-1. The betting coup also caught bookmakers in Britain and at the online betting site, Betfair, as well as other independent bookmakers in Ireland and at the track.