A GREYHOUND breeder was "publicly vilified" by a sporting newspaper and this led to his resignation from a major sporting body, it was claimed in Nenagh Circuit Court yesterday.
The man's reputation within the greyhound industry had been destroyed, Mr John Gordon SC, for the plaintiff, told Judge Diarmuid Sheridan.
Mr Sean McGrath (62), of Outrath, Cahir, Co Tipperary, a greyhound breeder and farmer, is suing Mr Gerry Desmond, Greyhound and Sporting Press Ltd, Mr Desmond as chief executive of the Irish Coursing Club, and Powerstown Ltd, Clonmel.
Mr McGrath alleged that on February 14th, 1991, when he was chairman of the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation (IGOBF), the defendants published in the Sporting Press words under a banner headline which said: "IGOBF appalls industry... and own membership". He also alleged the Sporting Press published letters purporting to comment adversely on an incorrect report of an Oireachtas Joint committee submission by the plaintiff.
The defence, led by Mr Liam Reidy SC, said the words constituted fair comment in good faith on a matter of public interest and that they were without malice.
Mr McGrath said the majority of people in Ireland believed the greyhound industry was structured wrongly and it could not survive in that way. The IGOBF had been invited to a joint Oireachtas sub-committee meeting in February 1991 on the greyhound industry, which he attended with three other delegates. He said the transcript of the hearing was accurate.
Asked what he was most offended by, he said it was the very fact that he was being accused of being against coursing. There was a case where glass had been scattered on a farmer's land where there was coursing and he was being classed as one of these people, and that upset him.
He denied he had said to the Joint Committee that "Irish Coursing Club (ICC) representation on Bord na gCon should be reduced or abolished." He said the board was controlled by the ICC.
He also denied he told the Oireachtas sub-committee that a new greyhound register should be set up independent of the ICC. He had never mentioned the words, "independent" or "separation".
He would say that a separate register would be a detrimental step for the greyhound industry in Ireland. He was very shocked and upset by letters of criticism in the Sporting Press as they appeared so untrue.
His impression was that some people in the Sporting Press were out to finish him and to ruin him within the industry, which they did". He said he had received 15 to 20 abusive phone calls to his house and he resigned as chairman of the IGOBF because he could not take any more. It affected his health and he had to take medication prescribed by his doctor for three weeks.
Mr McGrath said he felt shattered and had no role to play in the sport after that. He stood for the chairmanship in 1992 to try to regain his position, but it was very difficult when he was re-elected.
Senior people in the industry would not speak to him and had no place for him. He retired in 1994 because his credibility in the industry was finished.
The case continues today.