Bord na gCon official and trainer deny test on dog was improper

The chairman of Bord na gCon, Mr Paschal Taggart, and a greyhound trainer, Mr Brendan Matthews, have told the High Court there was nothing wrong or improper in a board laboratory test on a urine sample of a greyhound owned by Mr Matthews.

Mr Taggart said in an affidavit this was a routine test on a greyhound which had "nothing whatever to do with the detection of drugs". He added he had always sought to uphold the highest possible standards in the greyhound industry.

He was "shocked and appalled" that Mr John Garrahy, who is part-time regulation manager with the board, had made allegations against himself in relation to the test. Mr Taggart described the allegations against himself and Mr Matthews as "false".

In another affidavit, Mr Matthews, of Townviews, Dorans Hill, Newry, Co Down, said he had asked Mr Taggart to permit the board's Limerick laboratory to test a urine sample from one of his dogs to establish whether a painkilling medication being administered to the animal complied with the regulations of the Irish Coursing Club and to establish the sample was negative.

Mr Taggart had agreed to his request and had asked him to contact Mr Garrahy to get his approval. Mr Garrahy did and the sample was tested and proved negative. Mr Matthews denied Mr Garrahy had expressed shock at the request or had refused to carry it out or that he had made threats to Mr Garrahy.

Mr Garrahy informed him by phone last December that he had made certain references to Mr Matthews in an affidavit for legal proceedings. On finding out what these allegations were, Mr Matthews said he had phoned Mr Garrahy expressing his utter rejection of the allegations and the "wrongful involvement of me in his dispute" with the board.

During the phone conversation, Mr Matthews said he also dealt with Mr Garrahy's denials that Mr Garrahy had lobbied Mr Matthews to make representations to Mr Taggart for the appointment of Mr Garrahy's brother-in-law as manager of Galway racetrack. Mr Matthews said he pointed out to Mr Garrahy the latter had lobbied him some five times in that regard.

The court was also told the Bord na gCon chief executive, Mr Michael Field, denied he had ever told Mr Garrahy to take a private sample.

Yesterday was the second day of the hearing of an application by Mr Garrahy for an interlocutory injunction restraining the board from appointing any person to the post of full-time regulation manager.

The hearing resumes on Tuesday.