A bookmaker has brought a High Court challenge to Horse Racing Ireland's decision to suspend his permit for on course betting over his alleged failure to record bets made with him.
David Hyland, Moyne Road, Ranelagh, Dublin, yesterday secured leave to bring judicial review proceedings over Horse Racing Ireland's (HRI) decision of August 28th and February 8th last to suspend his permit.
Mr Justice Michael Peart also granted an injunction to Paul Coffey SC, for Mr Hyland, restraining HRI from implementing the suspension pending the court's determination of the matter.
Mr Coffey told the court that, under the permit, bookmakers must record all bets made with them and pay a levy to HRI. On July 19th last, the bookmakers committee of HRI contacted his client to say there had been a number of complaints made against him.
Mr Hyland had attended a hearing of the bookmakers committee on August 16th and denied any wrongdoing. He had said that, while he had not recorded the bets on the day they were made, they were subsequently recorded.
Mr Hyland had said he was given an assurance by a member of the committee that this "would be the end of the matter", counsel said.
However, he subsequently received a letter from the committee stating that, in relation to two of the allegations against him, he was to be suspended for a period of seven days. That period was increased to two months on appeal.