Director who blamed IGB woes on ‘political interference’ quits

A board member who blamed the Irish Greyhound Board’s ongoing woes on political interference and reckless decision-making has resigned as a director.

Brendan Moore’s resignation comes as the IGB is the subject of an investigation by the Comptroller and Auditor General and inquiries by the Dáil Public Accounts Committee.

Chief executive Adrian Neilan left his position last month rather than take up a new contract.

Last year, Mr Moore wrote to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and told him the company was facing mounting financial and racing integrity problems.

He said these were worsened by “political interference, a lack of accountability, and poor management”.

It is understood Mr Moore’s move to resign was based on the IGB’s handling of a race-fixing investigation in Dundalk and its corporate governance.

Two IGB senior investigators who wrote a report on the Dundalk scandal which exposed failures within the company have been on sick leave for the past year.

Their work has not been published but the company has circulated a separate review of the investigators’ work.

Yesterday junior agriculture minister Tom Hayes thanked Mr Moore for his contribution and said he would seek to appoint a replacement straight away.

The IGB also released a statement. “It is understood that Minister Simon Coveney has accepted the resignation of Brendan Moore as a member of the Irish Greyhound Board.

“An announcement regarding a replacement appointment is expected in the very near future.”

In a statement, Mr Moore said: “On Wednesday Jan 22 last, I wrote to Minister Coveney resigning my position on Bord na gCon. I gave the minister the reasons for my resignation and I hope he will act on them immediately."