Taggart again defies O’Donoghue to discuss sacking
He used a media launch for a “world class” greyhound stadium for Limerick to defend his sacking of former chief executive.
Mr Taggart told a press conference attended by more than 150 people - mostly greyhound followers at the Castletroy Park Hotel - that it was a red letter day for the industry in Limerick.
The stadium was predicted to cost around €15 million and could be open by March 2008. The meeting was also told it will be located on the Clare side of the River Shannon, will have a capacity of nearly 2,000 of which more than 300 greyhound enthusiasts will be able to enjoy greyhound racing from panoramic bars and restaurants.
However, Mr Taggart devoted much of his address to the sacking of Mr Tynan which is now the subject of an investigation by the former secretary general of the Department of Justice Tim Dalton, called in by Mr O’Donoghue.
Mr Dalton’s investigation has already commenced and he is expected to report to the minister within the next few weeks.
Mr Taggart last night said that he had repeatedly stated that the sacking of Mr Tynan had nothing to do with the non-publication of drug test findings by Bord na gCon. Despite this, he said, RTÉ and the Irish Examiner did not change their stance on the reporting of the matter. Mr Taggart said he would rather give up chairmanship of Bord na gCon than die down to the media frenzy. “My integrity and the integrity of the board is more important. I will never bow down to bullies,” he said.
A four minute television clip of his controversial Shelbourne Park press conference was also shown to last night’s audience. He said this broadcast had been censored by RTÉ and he was now taking legal action against RTÉ and the Irish Examiner over their coverage of the entire matter.
Bord na gCon member Tony McKenna stated that the drugs issue had been used as a smoke screen in the sacking of Aidan Tynan.
Since Mr Tynan’s sacking Bord na gCon has reached an unknown settlement with him.
Serious questions are being asked in the greyhound industry why the settlement was reached so quickly and how much was paid.
