Punchestown has potential to be one of top equestrian/agricultural centres

PUNCHESTOWN was bathed in the unwelcome light of politics again during the week with the publication of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee report into the circumstances of its State funding.

Most politicians indulged in a blame game, scoring points against Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy, Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh and the Government at large.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte a member of the PAC was one of the many using the report as a riding crop to beat the Coalition, labelling Punchestown as just a "pony centre".