Bookies dismiss claims of leaked Rose winner name
Presenters in Dublin and Cork yesterday claimed winner Kathryn Feeney’s name was leaked hours before the official announcement late on Tuesday night.
But festival boss Anthony O’Gara, show host Ray D’Arcy, Roses, their parents and well-wishers yesterday said the claim was nonsense.
Mr D’Arcy, however, admitted he had won €150 on a sweepstake run by RTÉ production staff. He drew the winning name before the festival began.
Cashman’s and Paddy Power bookmakers reported strong betting on Ms Feeney in the hours leading up to the official announcement. But both companies said they were happy with the bets placed and that Ms Feeney had simply caught the public imagination.
Cashman’s assistant managing director Ken Cashman said: “Kathryn was one of five girls who were heavily backed, but there was no foul play.
“If we thought a betting coup had been pulled off then we would have withheld payment until a full inquiry was carried out,” he said.
Paddy Power’s marketing manager Paddy Power said bets were placed on many different Roses to win and not just on Ms Feeney.
“I would not be dubious about the result. It’s not like every single person has just backed the one Rose, as we had lot of bets on the Kerry and South Australia Roses.
He said Paddy Power paid out €100,000 on Ms Feeney’s win, making a loss of €15,000 on her. But the bookmaker is up overall, as it has kept all the stakes from the win-only bets on the other 29 Roses.
Host Ray D’Arcy said the only people who knew the result were the judges. He only found out when he opened the golden envelope live on television.
Festival bosses said judges were independent and scrupulous. They had been taken to a private room when they made their final decision at 11pm on Tuesday night.
Festival managing director Anthony O’Gara said: “There is no way the winner’s name was revealed beforehand. It is rubbish.”
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