O’Brien rejects claim horses unaffected by rendering facility

RACEHORSE trainer Aidan O’Brien has rejected claims from the promoters of a proposed animal byproducts plant that his horses weren’t affected by emissions from a former rendering plant in the vicinity.

The Ballydoyle-based multi-classic winner said yesterday that the number of “bleeders” among the horse population on the training establishment was down 40% to almost zero since rendering stopped at the Castleblake site four years ago, while staff turnover was also down and infections to horses had fallen.

Mr O’Brien was speaking at an oral hearing into a proposal by Green Organics Energy (GOE) to develop an animal byproducts treatment plant/bioenergy facility less than 3km from his Ballydoyle base. The site earmarked by GOE for the plant was formerly used for rendering.