Report into greyhound industry due within days
The controversy began in January when Bord na gCon sacked chief executive Aidan Tynan, a few days after he wrote to Mr O’Donoghue raising concerns about the greyhound board’s drug control policies.
In particular, he referred to two positive findings for the banned blood booster EPO which the board’s control committee decided not to publish.
In the uproar that followed his sacking, Bord na gCon chairman Paschal Taggart, who also headed the control committee, denied that Mr Tynan’s dismissal was related to the row over EPO. As the row, by now highly public, escalated Sports Minister Mr O’Donoghue appointed Tim Dalton to carry out an assessment of the events surrounding the sacking.
The Irish Examiner understands his remit was widened to look at issues of governance and control within the State-backed greyhound industry.
It is likely the report will be debated in the Dáil once it has been studied by Mr O’Donoghue.
A spokesman for the department yesterday said the minister expects to receive Mr Dalton’s report “shortly”.
It is also understood that the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism asked Bord na gCon to put major strategic decisions on hold pending the outcome of Mr Dalton’s inquiry.
Two greyhound trainers, Paul Hennessy from Kilkenny and John Kiely from Cork were both fined last November for allowing EPO to be administered to racing dogs.
However, though both were fined, the control committee took the unusual step of not publicising the findings in the racing press, contrary to the board’s policies on drugs control.
Mr Taggart later said this decision was taken because they were the first positive findings ever in Ireland and because of the negative impact it might have on the industry as a whole.
In a series of public statements, Mr Taggart strongly defended his position and stewardship of the industry. He also claimed that his opponents in the industry - as well as RTÉ and the Irish Examiner - were conducting a campaign to undermine his position.
Mr Dalton, in the course of his assessment, is believed to have also examined governance issues, management issues relating to individual greyhound stadiums, and key relationships within the sport in Ireland.
