Dressage coach settles dispute over horse transporter

International horsewoman and dressage coach Anne-Marie Dunphy has settled a dispute over the alleged unlawful seizure of her sole horse transporter, the High Court was told yesterday.

Barrister Colm Hennessy told Mr Justice Brian Cregan the motion seeking recovery of the horsebox and the full legal proceedings by Ms Dunphy against mechanical servicing company Deoval Limited, and its directors Paul and Breda Doyle, could be struck out.

Mr Hennessy, counsel for Ms Dunphy, of The Cottage, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, told the court the proceedings, in which Dunphy had claimed her professional career had been jeopardised by the seizure, had been settled.

Dunphy had told the court she had left the Winnebago-type horse box, which can transport seven horses and sleep three assistants, with the Doyles for servicing, and when she returned to collect had been told she could not have it until she had paid an outstanding and disputed bill of €35,594.

She said the Doyles, of Knocknagee, Co Carlow, had told her the money was due for servicing over a number of years and, while she accepted she might owe them €8,000 at most, she “fundamentally disputed” the huge bill they had presented her with.

Dunphy had told the court she needed the Scania horsebox in order to run her business and was in serious jeopardy of losing clients and had responsibilities to five major sponsors.

She is pony dressage team manager for the Irish Equestrian Federation and sole selector of the Irish pony team. Since she initially applied for recovery of the vehicle there were two adjournments of the proceedings. The defendants had not put their account of matters to the court at any stage prior to yesterday’s settlement.