That Was The Irish Greyhound Industry - 2014

The following quotes that sum up the Irish Greyhound industry in 2014

• 'the credibility of the Bord na gCon was shot....shot dead....not alone in financial situation but the governance within the whole area of the Greyhound industry' Senator Denis Landy October 2014 speaking of the Review of certain matters relating to Bord na gCon.

• 'collisions and injuries....a feature of the sport' Irish Greyhound Board February 2014 in relation to the redesign of the first bend at the Limerick track. 

• Collisions which are a 'freak incident....quite rare in Greyhound racing' assured by the Irish Greyhound Board Welfare Officer February 2014 on the fate of Greyhound Inslips Fizz. Irish Greyhound Spotlight recorded and published at least 717 'freak incidents' just for the Saturday night races in Ireland throughout 2014.

• 'the Greyhound welfare act 2011.....is probably the strongest piece of legislation for any animal in the world' Brian Purcell of the Irish Greyhound Board July 2014 interviewed on the Morning Edition. This said despite the well-known case of John Corkery. Fined €800 in 2013 after two of the six dogs[Greyhounds]discovered dumped in the quarry[Limerick April 2012]were traced back to him using tattooed ear markings...John Corkery refused to say who had shot the dogs[his Greyhounds]. A further hearing of the same case resulted in any charges being dropped.

• 'it was a bad injury..........but that's Greyhound racing....' Kevin Hennnessy Boylesports Broadcaster August 2014 on Greyhound Boylesports Hero suffering a broken hock in the 2014 Irish Derby.

• 'the chairman[of the Control Committee - who oversee doping investigations]has a dog in training with a guy who has actually been found guilty of doping dogs' Mick Wallace TD December 2014 in Questions to the Minister Tom Hayes. 

All the above quotes are included in the Irish Greyhound Spotlight 2014 review of the industry video.

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Doping

2006
 - the then Chairman of Bord na gCon, Paschal Taggart, 'confirmed that at least three
 dogs had tested positive for the banned substance EPO
 but said he stood over the decision not to publish the findings'
2014
 - Marie Field, the wife of ex CEO of Bord na gCon, Michael Field, was 'fined €6,000
 and had to forfeit her €35,000 prize money' for a positive sample given 
from their co-owned/trained Greyhound - Kyle Calvin 
- one of six Greyhounds which 'tested positive for banned substances' 
at the National Coursing Meeting at Clonmel.

16th of February 2006 -  Jimmy Deenihan introduced a Private Members Bill, 'entitled an Act to provide for the independent control of doping within the greyhound industry and to establish an independent regulatory appeals body'.

29th of March 2006 - the then Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism was asked, by Deputy Tony Gregory,  for a statement on the matter of ' increasing use of unauthorised drugs in the greyhound industry'[racing and coursing]. The written reply given was that the question should be directed to Bord na gCon and Irish Coursing Club.

In June of 2006, the then Secretary General of the Justice Department, Tim Dalton published his damming report of 'Certain matters affecting the Bord na gCon'. In his concluding, on the subject of the doping of Greyhounds and the EPO/Paschal Taggart controversy:

  'The reasons advanced for failing to publish details of the Control Committee findings in the two(EPO)cases......are not at all convincing'
(the then Chairman of the Control Committee Paschal Taggart - was at the same time then the Chairman of the Bord na gCon)

7th of June 2006 -  Jimmy Deenihan TD, speaking on his introduction of the Greyhound Industry(Doping Regulation)Bill 2006(second reading):

 'there must be no room for cheats. For animal welfare reasons, Greyhounds should not be raced if they require pain killers or or other drugs to boost performance'.......'A leading Irish trainer received a substantial fine last year for using nandrolone in England, where it is prohibited. It is not a banned substance in Ireland, however'.....'Substances which are banned in England should be banned here and vice versa. I understand that a high profile trainer who was banned in the UK for using drugs got a licence to train in this country.

8th of June 2006, the second reading resumed with a heated debate, including accusations as to who may have leaked the Dalton Report, of 'Certain matters affecting the Bord na gCon', and its findings/recommendations to the media, before it was published. 

The Greyhound Industry(Doping Regulations)Bill 2006 by vote was declared lost.

The Tim Dalton Report 2006 - Certain matters affecting the Bord na gCon , like Jimmy Deenihan, Dalton raised the point of steroids not being prohibited in Ireland that are prohibited in the UK, and recommended that a policy prohibiting steroids, knowingly given to Greyhounds in Ireland, should be given consideration - and how The Greyhound Laboratory would be in a position to test for steroids under such a policy. The then Head of the Bord na gCon Laboratory, Dr.Jim Healy indicated to Dalton that:

  'it would not be unreasonable if the Board[Bord na gCon]were to categorise steroids such as nandrolone as prohibited substances on the grounds that they can affect performance' 

Dalton recommended, also like Deenihan, that the Control Committee should be independent of the Bord na gCon.

A new beginning for the 'integrity' of the Irish Greyhound industry?

In June 2007, following recommendations of the Dalton Report, the Greyhound Industry (Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee) Regulations 2007 was signed in to dissolve the existing Control Committee, and establish a new Control Committee to oversee doping cases - independent of the Bord na gCon. However, members of the Control Committee are to be appointed by the Bord na gCon.

October 2007 - the first report from the new Control Committee highlighted 'severe cautions' and fines for two of eight owners/trainers whose Greyhounds were 'found with traces of Benzoylecgonine' - a metabolite of cocaine, needless to say a prohibited substance. The then Minister of Department of Arts, Sports, and Tourism, Seamus Brennan, was pleased with the findings and assured them as an 'appropriate deterrent going forward'.

Earlier in 2007 - High-profile Irish trainer, Paul Hennessy pleaded guilty and was fined after a 'drugs haul'. Heart Rumble is nominated for 'Greyhound of the year'(for 2006)by a Bord na gCon judging panel. Heart Rumble was trained by Paul Hennessy and tested positive in 2004 for the UK banned steroid, nandrolone, after a race in Sunderland, UK. Heart Rumble continued to be used for racing in Ireland after Hennessy's fine. Hennessy was embroiled in the earlier highlighted 2006 EPO/Paschal Taggert controversy.

'Appropriate deterrent going forward'?

March 2008 - Low Handicap caused controversy for the Bord na gCon after giving a positive sample. According to the Bord na gCon, the sample could not stand because of incorrect labelling - unlike labelling errors for fourteen other positive samples which stood. Noreen McManus, owner of Low Handicap, was recently awarded the prize money from the Marie/Michael Field doping controversy.

2009 - Shelbourne Aston, winner of the 2008 Irish Derby, gave a positive test for a 'steroidal substance' at the 2009 English Derby(Wimbledon). Irish trainer of Shelbourne Aston, Pat Curtin, was 'severely reprimanded' and fined £850 in a Greyhound Board of Great Britain Disciplinary Hearing. Shelbourne Aston continued to be used for racing in Ireland after the GBGB Hearing.

High-profile Irish trainers such as Paul Hennessy and Pat Curtin would surely know that steroids not banned in Ireland are banned in the UK?

2010 - the Tullymurry Act Case. The Control Committee, in 2013, agreed that Greyhound Tullymurry Act had been given a sedative whilst in the care of the Bord na gCon, on the night of 2010 Irish Derby Final - leaving the Bord na gCon a '€1.5m lawsuit and a demand to annul the result of the 2010 Derby final'. Bord na gCon head of regulations, Mr. Herbert, 'reported that following the Tullymurry Act case. BnG will be bringing forward proposals to amend the racing regulations to address the shortcomings highlighted by this case' in a meeting with Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.

2011 - 2013 - a brief on doping and dropped doping cases showed the number of positive tests for 2011 - 2013 being 152 - the number of those positive tests decided by the Control Committee being 92 - the details for the number of those positive tests decisions published being 61(publications of details for 2013 were not available at the time the information was requested - indeed the information was still unavailable during the 2014 review by Indecon). The period for 2011 - 2013 took up much of the Control Committee's time for 'one particular high profile case'.

2014 

Pat Curtin again becomes caught up in a doping scandal. Kereight King(in the care of Curtin)gave a positive sample for Stanozolol, after a trial at Wimbledon, UK, for the 2014 English Derby. The GBGB Disciplinary Hearing findings are still awaited. Pat Curtin was given continued support from the Bord na gCon in a sponsorship deal.  Kereight King is now retired to stud after sustaining an injury in the recent 2014 Irish Derby. 

The pressure on the Bord na gCon on naming and shaming of dopers was raised in an article in the Irish Sunday Times, and of debate between the Bord na gCon, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Duncan Gibson, of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, told the journalist, John Mooney: 

'the factual evidence from our sampling analyse didn't suggest a widespread abuse of stanozolol in Ireland' 

Later in the year the GBGB would 'urge all trainers to exercise due diligence in assessing the drug status of greyhounds they purchase from Ireland' - in a September Disciplinary Committee Hearing for a positive sample of a metabolite of Stanozolol, taken from Irish born Gemstones Rover. 

The anabolic steroid Stanozolol 'proving more difficult'[in it's oil-based form]for the Bord na gCon to detect - as seen in a 2013 meeting with DAFM.

With various Bord na gCon controversies coming to a head in 2013, invitations for submissions of tenders for another review of the Bord na gCon was announced. The damming 'review of certain matters relating to the Bord na gCon' by successful tenders Indecon was published in July 2014. Indecon highlighted the Control Committee is by legislation independent of the Bord na gCon in its decision making and the legislation does not give the Bord na gCon the right to appeal decisions.
Indecon found that although:

'in percentage terms the number of positive tests is less than one percent....
....in absolute terms the number of positive tests is of concern'.

In reference to the doping of Greyhounds, Indecon went on to recommend:

• the Minister should appoint the members of the Control Committee. 
• issues of dismissal of positive tests and delays in publishing results should be addressed.
• new legislation to allow for off-track random testing i.e owners/trainers kennels/premises/vehicles.
• may be more effective to outsource the Bord na gCon testing laboratory to a laboratory operating on a much larger scale.
• the number of tests taken, positive tests, and adverse findings to be published via the Bord na gCon website and annual reports.

October 2014  Iirsh Sunday Times - Details of Anabolic Steroids and banned drug sales to Irish Greyhound and Horse owners/trainers have been given to Irish Authorities. 'Department of Agriculture[Food and the Marine]and Irish Turf Club are examining the mailing list provided by Nature Vet'.(The Australian company, Nature vet, being the company that, high-profile Greyhound trainer, Paul Hennessy had bought from - earlier highlighted in the 2007 'drugs haul'). This follows a report, in September 2013, that DAFM had 'launched 149 inquiries into the attempted importation of controlled veterinary drugs and animal remedies over the past three years'.....'Among the substances which have been intercepted are antibiotics and banned performance-enhancement drugs. There have been four seizures of AMP 5, a drug given to horses and greyhounds to improve their racing ability'

We only presume that the Irish Greyhound born in 2002(PTS in 2007)was named Nandrolone as some sort of joke - albeit a tasteless joke.

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UPDATE December 2014
In a disciplinary hearing(24th October 2014)for the positive sample given by Kereight King, Pat Curtin was again 'severely reprimanded'(as in 2009)and fined £3000.
In a recent Irish greyhound Board Press Release on doping the IGB wish to show a 'move towards greater transparency' towards doping - despite enjoying continued sponsorship from the Dublin Dandelion Bar and Nightclub - owned by Pat Curtin.

2014 Irish Derby - Behind the lights

The 2014 Irish Derby began with controversial news of a return of 

Greyhound - Skywalker Puma

  'the 2012 hero returning to have a crack' at the 2014 Irish Derby €125.000 prize -

returning from a 'serious injury' sustained in the 2013 Irish Derby

 that forced his retirement to stud.

Skywalker Puma went out in the 2014 Irish Derby first round.

In June it was confirmed that Boylesports bookmakers would sponsor the Irish Derby for the next three years, starting with 2014. Chairman of the Bord na gCon, Phil Meaney, Minister for Greyhound racing, Tom Hayes, and Boylesports owner, John Boyle, gathered with Greyhounds - Boylesports Hero, Locnamon Birdie, and Droopys Nidge - to launch this years Derby: a Derby that would give the industry a brief rest-bite from the recent 'review of certain matters relating to the Bord na gCon'.

After news that Skywalker Puma would be used again, a 'gamble' was decided on the use of Greenwell Hulk suffering with a tendon injury in the toe, but he was soon withdrawn, becoming 'the first major casualty' of the Derby. 

So other 'major' casualties were to be expected?

• Boylesports Hero, wearing a bandage in the Derby launch, owned by John Boyle, owner of Boylesports, suffered with a broken hock in the first round - stunning the crowd to a 'silence'.
• Droopys Nidge being 'very sore...in his lower back and neck' continued to be used into round three, of the Derby. Trainer Robert Gleeson admitted he probably would not have been used 'if it wasn't the Derby'.
• Unlike Droopys Nidge, Surely Bassi was withdrawn after round three - suffering with a neck injury.
• Holdem Spy, who suffered in the 2013 Irish Derby with a 'hairline hock fracture', sustained a toe injury before the 2014 Irish Derby began, but his training work was 'stepped up' and they were 'going to give it a go'.
• Ballyana Foxtrot was bumped and stumbled at the first bend - screaming out of round four, but he was used again in race three on the Derby Final night(13th September).

There may well be further injuries sustained and not obviously suspected from the race results, such as was highlighted with Vanrooney(not used in the Derby - he has not been used since 19th July).

Kisses for Cloda suffered in a trial for the 2013 English Derby with a 'hock injury' - there was a gamble on the further use of him into the 2014 Irish Derby.

Kereight King withdrawn from the 2013 Irish derby suffering with a 'serious toe injury', was gambled for 2014 Irish Derby €125,000 prise.

The 2014 Irish Derby would see Pat Curtin enter Kereight King and Whizzing Archie - despite the doping scandal of Kereight King and owner/trainer Pat Curtin in the 2014 English Derby, and the doping scandal of Shelbourne Aston(winner of 2008 Irish Derby), where Pat Curtin was 'severely reprimanded' and fined £850 by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain for a positive sample given by Shelbourne Aston at Wimbledon in 2009.

The 2014 Irish Derby would see breeder/trainer/owner PJ Fahy enter Tyrur Sugar Ray and Tyrur Nathan. 

• Tyrur Nathan the son of Tyrur Sugar Ray was born in 2012. 
• Tyrur Sugar Ray the son of Top Honcho was born in 2010.
• Top Honcho was born in 1993 and died in 2007.

Under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005 both Tyrur Nathan and Tyrur Sugar Ray were unlawfully conceived, and registered, and used for racing. The ongoing breach of the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005 in Ireland was highlighted in June by Irish Greyhound Spotlight. Regulation 14 'Death of a stud sire', sets out that: (6)  No person may lawfully implement or be involved in the implementing of a frozen insemination procedure where the stud sire is known, or could on reasonable enquiry be known, to that person to be dead for more than two 2 years.

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Report of, November 2013, Liaison Meeting - Bord na gCon and DAFM

On 22 November 2013 at Bord na gCon Headquarters, in Limerick,

 a meeting was held with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 

on various topics, such as Welfare, 'Debts, Doping, and Ringing'.

IGS highlights and expands some areas of certain interest, below, from the Report of the November 2013 Liaison Meeting between the semi-state Irish Greyhound industry and their sponsors(Dept. Agriculture, Food and the Marine).The Report followed shortly after the Bord na gCon's appearance before the Public Accounts Committee.

'Limerick Stadium' :  'Mr. Niall Healy, who attended this meeting at the request of BnG, provided an outline to the meeting of how the construction of Limerick Stadium was managed.'  The controversial Greyhound track managed on a 'gentleman's agreement'.

'Regulation' : 'Mr. Herbert, Head of Regulation, BnG, reported that following the Tullymurry Act case. BnG will be bringing forward proposals to amend the racing regulations to address the shortcomings highlighted by this case.' The Tullymurry Act case left the Bord na gCon to face a €1.5m lawsuit after the Greyhound was found to have been drugged while in the Bord's care.

'Frozen Semen' : 'The Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005, S.I. 561 of 2005 provide for a two year limit on the use of semen following the death of a stud dog, thereafter the semen must be destroyed and this is provided for in Articles 11 and 14 of the aforementioned Regulations. DAFM expressed its concern to learn that the two year rule is not being adhered to' Please read further on the on-going breaches of the AI Greyhound Regulations as highlighted by IGS in June.

'Greyhound Welfare' : 'Mr. Ryan[DAFM]recommended that Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) should be prepared and implemented by staff at tracks and at kennels. Mr. Herbert[Bord na gCon]confirmed that there were no greyhound welfare SOPs in place. Mr. Neilan accepted that BnG need to address this issue.' Seven months later, in July 2014, Bord na gCon's Brian Purcell claims the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 to be 'probably the strongest piece of legislation for any animal in the world'. 

'Dundalk Enquiry' : 'Mr. Herbert outlined the changes that have been made by BnG arising out of the findings contained in the report commissioned by BnG from Ms Aoife Forrest, BL, into the running of “Mays Hurronboy” 'An examination of results, between May 2008 and June 2009, found a number of cases where dogs with fictitious trials competed'[at Dundalk]. 'new evidence subsequently came to light, which showed the need for further investigation' a 'new report high-lighted significant shortcomings in the original IGB inquiry'.

'Stanozolol' : 'Stanozolol is an anabolic steroid the use of which is banned in sports. Stanozolol, in its oil-based form, is administered intravenously, the water-based form is administered orally. Mr. Herbert informed the meeting that BnG has been testing for Stanozolol, in its water- based form, for a number of years. BnG tests to the Australian standard. BnG can, under current testing arrangements in Ireland, detect the presence of the water-based Stanozolol. Testing for oil-based \ Stanozolol is proving more difficult' 

'Oestrogen Suppression' : 'BnG is seeking to identify a product that can be legitimately used as an oestrogen suppressant in bitches. Mr. Herbert explained that bitches are unable to race when they come in season and this limits the number of times bitches can compete[be used]' 'The human contraceptive pill, an effective oestrogen suppressant, is not an anabolic steroid but there is no veterinary equivalent on the market. BnG is seeking the approval of the Irish Medicines Board to use this product (i.e. human medicine) in greyhounds. In addition, BnG is examining products on the market that are being legally administered to horses with a view to identifying a solution for greyhounds' Business is business - the Greyhounds are tools - the races must go on. 

'AOB' : 'BnG’s welfare officer will travel to Spain to assess the situation with regard to greyhound racing there. A private individual is planning to export dogs to Spain' After the denial of exports of Greyhounds to China on Welfare grounds alarming news came of new sales of Greyhounds to Spain - this despite the concerns raised in 2005 and the continued abuse of thousands of Spanish Greyhounds: the Galgo. 

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Please don't support the Irish Greyhound Industry.

IGB Saturday Night Injuries(part one) January - March

'Collisions and injuries....a feature of the sport'

Bord na gCon/Irish Greyhound Board - Febraury 2014

(In a statement on the revamp of the first bend at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

Concerns were raised in February 2011.)

This is contrary to the Bord na gCon Welfare Manager, Barry Coleman.

In February 2014, Barry Coleman replied to pressed enquiries of concern about the well-being of Greyhounds: Inslips Fizz and Airforce Rebel, highlighted by IGS in January 2014. Barry Coleman replied with a general PR welfare letter, stating that Inslips Fizz was euthanised by the track(Clonmel)veterinary surgeon after being 'injured...through a freak incident, which is quite rare in Greyhound racing' . Airforce Rebel after taking 'a tumble....was found to be completely sound and healthy afterwards'.

Surviving the high-speed 'tumble',  Airforce Rebel was exported to England where he now continues to have his life risked.

Throughout 2014, IGS has been recording Greyhounds who suffer through racing on each IGB Saturday race night throughout Ireland: The IGB's Saturday nights 'at the dogs' 2014.

IGS records Greyhounds(from race results)who had been knocked over, or fell, stumbled, 

finished lame, struck rails, bumped, or faded, never showed, baulked, or did not finish - 

and/or not given a recorded finishing time, and/or race comments.

For January to March 144 Greyhounds were recorded as a concern.

Of those 144 Greyhounds:

• 36 never raced again after suffering on the Saturday night recorded
• 4 continued to race but have not raced since February
• 7 continued to race but have not raced since March

Of the remaining 97 Greyhounds:

• 24 continued to race but have not raced since April
• 16 raced into May
• 50 have continued racing into June
• 7 were exported/sold to continue being used for racing in England.

From the 144 Greyhounds recorded as a concern 47 have not been heard 

of again, in racing, since March 2014.

 Concerns remain over at least a further 24 Greyhounds.

Remember that these worrying results are taken from just Saturday race nights. The tracks raising the most concern from these findings were Mullingar and Lifford.

In these findings, of just the first quarter of 2014, it, sadly, is indeed the case that the Bord na gCon are correct in saying that 'Collisions and injuries....a feature of the sport', and that the Bord na gCon Welfare Manager is incorrect in saying injuries are 'rare in Greyhound racing'. 

Maybe such contrary statements from the Bord na gCon are to be expected given that there has been on-going certain matters of concern and even their own Regulations continue to be breached.

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Artificial Insemination Regulations Breach

In March(2014)IGS highlighted an example of artificial insemination,

 in Greyhound breeding, of how

 Top Honcho has sired well over 10,000 Greyhounds - 

despite dying in 2007 he still sired Greyhounds into 2013.

On further research into the artificial insemination of Greyhounds it has come to light there has been a continued breach of the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005.

The breach being the continued use of the semen of dead Greyhounds, such as the exampled Top Honcho. Regulation 11 of the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005, 'Eligibility for registration of a litter conceived in Ireland by artificial insemination', sets out that:

A litter conceived in Ireland by means of artificial insemination will be eligible for registration in the Irish Greyhound Stud Book only if:

(e) the requirements of regulation 13 and regulation 14 have been complied with.

Regulation 14 'Death of a stud sire', sets out that:

(3) ..At the end of the two year period, all unused frozen semen of a stud sire shall be destroyed by the manager of the approved centre in which it is stored.

(4)  No greyhound or its progeny may be registered in the Irish Greyhound Stud Book which is the progeny of a conception which took place by means of artificial insemination after the sire had been dead for more than two years.

(6)  No person may lawfully implement or be involved in the implementing of a frozen insemination procedure where the stud sire is known, or could on reasonable enquiry be known, to that person to be dead for more than two 2 years.

The Greyhound Top Honcho, sire to over 10,000 Greyhounds, died in 2007 but 

Greyhounds were still being registered from the use of his frozen semen into 2013.

In a 2013 letter, in reference to Bord na gCon Artificial Insemination Regulations, Pat Herbert, Head of Regulation Irish Greyhound Board, stated in 2012 that 'the Bord is considering extending the two year death limited to five years' 
Under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 Regulation 39(1): The Board may, after consultation with the Club and with the consent of the Minister, make regulations controlling the practice of artificial insemination of greyhounds. But 'this does not appear to have been done yet'.

['The Board' being Bord na gCon(Irish Greyhound Board), 'the Club' being The Irish Coursing Club, and 'the Minister being the Minister for the department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine]

Minuets of a meeting held in 2007, did not record any 'representation made by or on behalf of the Bord....general consensus was to remove the[two year]limit from the[Artificial Insemination]Regulations....but no binding  resolution, decision, or otherwise was taken' 

In 2008 a meeting was held between the Bord na gCon and the Irish Coursing Cub: the 'Bord agree to remove the two year death limit...from the Regulation.....However the Minister[of Department of Agriculture, the Marine and Food]must approve the amendment prior to its enactment' 

The period for the use of frozen semen may be varied, as Regulation 14 (7) sets out:
(7)   The Board, having regard to the improvement and development of the greyhound industry in Ireland, and in the light of both national and international developments, and following consultation with the Club, may vary the Period for use of frozen semen of a dead stud sire as limited by this regulation 14. Notice of any such variation and the date of its effectiveness shall be given by advertisement published in “The Sporting Press”.
However the Bord failed to publish anything of amendments of the Artificial Insemination Regulations in the Sporting Press.

On 19th of June 2014, Simon Coveney(Minister, department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)answered a written parliamentary question, in relation to the breach: 'My Department was informed by Bord na gCon in early 2013 that procedural issues had arisen in relation to the registration of greyhounds conceived following artificial insemination which were at variance with the provisions set down in the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations, 2005' and that 'The matters at issue are between Bord na gCon and the ICC.'

In summary: 

• the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005 was enacted in 2005
• in 2007 unofficial meetings were held to remove Regulation 14(in reference to destroying frozen semen of a stud sire two years after the stud sire had died).'but no binding  resolution, decision, or otherwise was taken' 
• in 2008 the Bord[Irish Greyhound Board], in a meeting with the Irish Coursing Cub, 'agree to remove the two year death limit...from the Regulation'. This needs to be approved by the Minister[of Department of Agriculture, the Marine and Food]
• in 2013 the Department of Agriculture, the Marine and Food was informed by the Bord that: 'procedural issues had arisen in relation to the registration of greyhounds conceived following artificial insemination which were at variance with the provisions set down in the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations, 2005'
• in 2014 no Ministerial approval has been made - Regulation 14[Death of stud sire]of the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005 still stands.

Just how many Greyhounds have been registered and used by the industry illegally?

Maybe more will soon come to light in the 

long-awaited review of certain matters relating to the Bord na gCon.

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UPDATE November 2014

Nine years on the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005 has now been amended.
The two year rule has now been dropped - a rule that was constantly breached and allowed the unlawful breeding of Greyhounds for nine years. It is a concern that an amendment to regulations of industry 'integrity' has taken so long. Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds(Amendment)Regulations 2014.

Poignant April - Remembering All

Saoirse a thabhairt as a n-confines

Bring freedom from their confines

In April 2012 six former racing Greyhounds 

were found shot and dumped in a former quarry, outside Limerick.

Within 24 hours of the discovery the Bord na gCon had identified the owners of the 

Greyhounds but it wasn't until a year later for any prosecutions.

In April of 2013 the prosecution for the Limerick Greyhounds would show no real regard for the Welfare of Greyhounds despite Barry Coleman, Welfare Manager of Bord na gCon, welcoming it as a 'successful prosecution'. The shooting of Greyhounds only resulted in a combined fine of €800 for John Corkery for the forging of a signature and a failure to notify any transfer of ownership. John Corkery refused to give details of who had shot his Greyhounds, seeing nothing wrong with shooting a dog in the head. This, sadly, against the hugely supported petition, from Greyhound Safe Ireland, to the Director of Public Prosecutions showing the public concern. 

Any thoughts of the prosecution being 'successful' was blatantly shadowed by the shooting of Greyhounds being regarded as not inhumane, and a further hearing in July 2013 only resulted in any charges being dropped, as witnessed by Greyhound Rescue Association of Ireland.

The month of April is a graphic poignant reminder that we must remember, and speak up for, all those thousands of Greyhounds who have and do suffer because of the Irish Greyhound Industry.

• The tens of thousands of Greyhounds bred.
• The on going recordings/research of Greyhound abuse cases.
• The on going recordings/research of Greyhounds who suffer for 'IGB Saturday night at the dogs'.
• The questions raised on the accountability of Greyhounds.
• The lack of any real Industry rehoming efforts of Greyhounds.

The likes of the above are all cruel realities that continue - cruelties that former Bord na gCon chairman, Paschal Taggart, wishes to preserve in his desire to save Wimbledon Greyhound track in the UK.

Greyhounds suffer for the Irish Industry every day - they are just tools.

Please don't support their cruel use.

Please adopt, foster, rescue a Greyhound.