Minister had link to doping scandal trainer

A DOG part-owned by Sports Minister John O’Donoghue was trained by the man at the centre of the doping row ripping greyhound racing apart.

Paul Hennessy, perhaps the most prodigious trainer in Ireland and Britain, handled Lotto Princess for a group of 19 TDs and senators called the Leinster Lawn Syndicate, which includes Mr O’Donoghue.

The syndicate was set up by now-deceased Cork TD Liam Burke as a way to bring Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael politicians together and raise the profile of the sport in the Oireachtas.