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Vinnie's dog at centre of doping inquiry case

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By Tim Healy
Friday Oct 31 2008

ACTOR Vinnie Jones and two other members of a greyhound-owning syndicate were not afforded proper procedures to defend themselves against a charge that their winning dog failed a drug test, the High Court heard yesterday.

The claim came at the start of a judicial review application against the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) by the syndicate which owned the winning greyhound, called Boavista, at the centre of drug test allegations in 2006.

The syndicate comprises Mr Jones, a former footballer and star of films including 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', Pat Curtin, a leading greyhound trainer and Denis Gould, a bookie.

Mr Curtin's sister, Bridget, who was the handler of Boavista, is also one of the applicants in the High Court proceedings.

The case centres on a decision by the ICC to hold an inquiry into the alleged finding of the controlled drug, amphetamine, in Boavista which won the JP McManus Irish Cup course, held at Limerick race track on February 26, 2006.

As a result of a drug test on the dog, the €80,000 purse from the race was frozen although, the court heard yesterday, all winning bets were paid out.

Disclosure

The syndicate and Ms Curtin claim the ICC did not provide full disclosure of the allegations against them after it had found the dog had tested positive and decided to hold an inquiry.

They are seeking an order from the High Court restraining the inquiry from taking place in the manner as originally proposed. They claim the inquiry, as constituted, was in breach of natural justice as well as in breach of the ICC's own rules.

They say all documentation, including statements and names and addresses of all witnesses, should first be supplied to them before an inquiry takes place.

Mr Curtin, as a highly successful greyhound trainer, was most concerned about the inquiry because any adverse findings by it could have serious financial consequences for his business, the court heard.

The ICC denies the syndicate has not been afforded fair procedures. The syndicate was furnished with all documentation, including the names of the stewards who witnessed the taking and certifying of the sample and the name of the veterinary surgeon who took the sample.

The ICC also says that Bridget Curtin, the handler of the dog and one of the applicants in the case, was present during the test and was given the opportunity to have a split sample but she waived that right .

The ICC says it also supplied details of the chain of evidence as to who the sample was handed on to before it was analysed.

The hearing continues.

- Tim Healy