A HIGH COURT dispute has erupted over the ownership and future of greyhound Shanless Slippy, which five weeks ago won the £50,000 English Greyhound Derby and could make its owners £500,000 at stud.
Mr Justice Morris yesterday ordered that the dog and its kennel mate, Shanless Suzy, be managed by a Cork stud specialist until the High Court determines ownership claims by a millionaire Northern Ireland draper and two Kildare trainers.
Mr Frank Callanan, counsel for Mr Frank McGirr, of Shanless, Coalisland, Co Tyrone, told the court his client was an amateur greyhound enthusiast who bought the dog from an English breeder two years ago and placed it for training with Ms Dolores Ruth and Mr Paul Byrne at their kennels at Punchers Grange, Rathangan, Co Kildare.
Mr Richard McDonnell, counsel for the trainers, said Ms Ruth was granted a half ownership share in both dogs in return for training and maintenance services.
Mr McGirr, who owns property worth £750,000 in Northern Ireland and in Donegal, told the court he put Shanless Slippy and Shanless Suzy in training with Ms Ruth and, due to his inexperience, was dependent on her expertise and good faith.
"It is now evident she must have been aware of the potential of Shanless Slippy at a very early stage but never told me," he said. "She would only say they were coming on fine and there was no reference to the exceptional potential of Shanless Slippy."
He said he agreed to a half of the winnings cut for Ms Ruth in return for training fees and maintenance. He had made the agreement at a time when she was "alive" to the dog's potential and he was not. He had also agreed to give her half of the proceeds of sale if he sold the dog.
"Shanless Slippy shortly afterwards proved to be a highly successful greyhound and won 13 races in succession, two of which were classics," he said.
After winning the £9,500 first prize in the Produce Stakes in, Clonmel last April he had told Ms Ruth to enter Shanless Slippy in the English Derby at Wimbledon. When the dog won its first two heats in the Derby she telephoned him to ask if he would be interested in selling. He said no and she asked could she sell her half share.
"I told her she didn't own half a share, that I was the owner and she the trainer," he said. "She told me she was clear about this and that it was OK."
Shanless Slippy had won all five of the English Derby heats and on June 28th won the final and £50,000. He had not been aware there was prize money for winning the heats and never received any.
He had afterwards told Ms Ruth it would be best to retire Shanless Slippy to a stud while his reputation was at its peak. Over the next 10 years £1,000 a week could be realised in stud fees. He was aware that the father and grandfather of Shanless Slippy had been retired to stud in similar circumstances with Mr Richard O'Reagan in Cork and he wanted the dog to go there.
Ms Ruth and her business partner, Mr Paul Byrne, wanted to run the dog in the Irish Derby and told him he could not have either dog as they were claiming a half share in Shanless Slippy.
"My family's joy at having the winner of the English Derby has turned to a nightmare," he said.
Ms Ruth told the court Mr McGirr was no innocent novice about greyhounds. He had fallen ill last year and told her he wished to sell the dogs. They entered an equal winnings share arrangement in lieu of training fees. Shanless Slippy had a phenomenal success in her first trial and became a world class racing greyhound. Training and maintenance fees increased.
In October last year Mr McGirr offered her 50 per cent ownership in both dogs and she accepted. Days later she refused a half share of a £10,000 offer by a neighbour of Mr McGirr. She advised him not to sell and since then believed she and Mr Byrne held a half share in both dogs.
Ms Ruth said she had advised Mr McGirr of Shanless Slippy's prospects and, although she had not foreseen the extent of his potential, she had always used words such as "exceptional" and "phenomenal" when reporting the dog's progress.
She said she had always informed Mr McGirr of the dog's progress and all prize money including the English Derby heats. She said she and Mr Byrne had wanted to continue racing Shanless Slippy but had agreed to its going to stud. She had refused to hand over the dogs on the grounds that Mr McGirr had made clear he would not honour their agreement and deprive her and Mr Byrne of their half share.
Mr Justice Morris ordered that both dogs be delivered to Mr O'Reagan's kennels in Cork and that Mr O'Reagan be paid a one third share of all stud fees as his remuneration for stud management, animal maintenance and bitch selection. The remaining stud fees were to be lodged to an account in the names of the solicitors of the plaintiff and the defendants with free access of all parties to the dogs and financial records. The judge also ordered that the views of both parties be taken into consideration by Mr O'Reagan with regard to selection of bitches to be covered.
Gardai seek news of Drogheda man Gardai have appealed for information on a Drogheda man who has not been seen since he left his home at 5 a.m. last Sunday. Mr David Smith, Hand Street, had returned to his home from a local nightclub with a few friends. However, he left the house and, despite telephoning a family friend on Sunday, has not been seen since.
When he left home he was casually dressed in jeans, and jacket.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Drogheda gardai on 041-41661.