Ordinary greyhound folk just want transparency
We were surprised because the reporting being complained about was, in our view, factual and clearly well researched.
We were dismayed because the attempted chastisement and, indeed, attempted muzzling of the Irish Examiner by people who hold positions of authority and influence in our sport and industry, is a classic example of shooting the messenger when the message is unpalatable.
Worse, it was a low blow to a newspaper which, far and above all other media instruments, consistently, in lean times and fat, promoted the greyhound game, both track and field.
There is no doubt in our minds, as grassroots owners, breeders, and supporters, that the quality and extent of the coverage given to our sport by the Irish Examiner is one of the principal reasons it has enjoyed the high public profile it had prior to the worrying and damaging revelations which have surfaced recently.
We, who enjoy breeding, training and running of our greyhounds in our own small though enjoyable way, feel betrayed by those given the responsibility of administering the sport (made easier by a very generous annual allocation of Exchequer funding) and safeguarding its integrity. The two key areas that any sport needs are integrity and transparency.
The small owners and &breeders are not interested in boardroom battles and have precious little time to enjoy the comforts of corporate hospitality.
We only want to be assured that when we run our greyhounds, let it be against each other or against the most successful trainers in the land, we are competing on a level playing field, particularly where the alleged use and abuse of performance enhancing drugs is concerned.
We ask for no more or no less than absolute transparency where enforcement of the rules of our “game” is concerned, particularly in the area of drug use.
We are waiting, with great interest and with great hope, the report of the independent investigation now being carried out by the former secretary general in the Department of Justice, Tim Dalton.
As anyone with an involvement in the breeding and running of greyhounds needs to be an eternal optimist, we will not now lose our optimism in this stormy period.
The Sports Minister, John O’Donoghue, has our trust. We are optimistic that he will not let us ordinary greyhound folk down. We are certain that the Irish Examiner will never let us down.
Eoin Walshe
Kerry Pike
Co Cork
Frank Clune
Ballymagooly
Mallow
Co Cork
Denis Lynch
Knockrour
Aghabullogue
Co Cork
