Stewart Kenny, managing director of Paddy Power bookmakers, was yesterday accused of "having an axe to grind" after his controversial speech at Saturday night's Moyglare dinner.

Kenny was the first bookmaker to address the Moyglare dinner in its 18-year history and used the opportunity to launch a stinging attack on plans for the Tote to operate in pubs and other retail outlets.

He said such a move would effectively freeze out bookmakers and warned: "If there is any attempt to freeze out bookmakers, who would bet against Paddy Power setting up our own Tote operation and making a success of it? Before you pick a fight, think about just how bloody a nose you might get. If anyone tries to stop us from selling Tote products on Irish racing, we will be less inclined to promote Irish racing."

Kenny attacked plans to partially deregulate the Tote, describing it as "imperialist clap trap dressed up as wild unfettered democratic thinking and selective deregulation." He also called on the Government to immediately establish a commission on gambling to examine every aspect of the industry in Ireland.

However the Irish Horseracing Authority's chief executive Noel Ryan yesterday commented: "Mr Kenny has a sharp axe to grind and he is beginning to grind it. He seems to be getting his retaliation in first."

Ryan said he was "mildly amused by Mr Kenny's invective, rhetoric and colourful language." He added: "I seem to remember when our plans for the Tote were outlined in our Strategic Plan, Mr Kenny described it as unresearched, unthought-out and unrealistic. I think it's significant that he is now expressing concerns."

In the Moyglare speech, Kenny pointed out that Paddy Power will have the technology to run an efficient Tote operation in Ireland by the middle of 1999. "Remember it took us only four weeks to set up live TV pictures for 109 offices around the country," he said.