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Disciplinary Committee Inquiries

The Disciplinary Committee of the GBGB were in attendance at a meeting held on 16 June 2011:-
Mr R Woodworth CBE (in the chair)
Mr R Coughlan
Dr E Houghton
Dr A Higgins
(*denotes where Dr Higgins was present in an advisory capacity as Chair of DMAP)
1.
APPEAL – MR W O’DONOGHUE
The Disciplinary Committee considered an appeal received from former Sales Agent Mr William
O’Donoghue to lift a disqualification. The disqualification was lifted with immediate effect. Mr
O'Donoghue confirmed that in future he would offer for sale only his own dogs and would ensure
that they were free of prohibited substances before offering them for sale. The Disciplinary
Committee advised him that they would take a very serious view of any future breaches.
2. APPEAL – MR B McBRIDE
The Disciplinary Committee considered an appeal from Mr Bernard (Ben) McBride against the
Director of Regulation’s decision to refuse a professional trainer licence application. The Disciplinary
Committee was concerned that there was conflicting evidence surrounding Mr McBride’s 2006
conviction for conveying or carrying animal so as to cause unnecessary suffering but noted his
exemplary record since then. The Disciplinary Committee rejected Mr McBride’s appeal but agreed
that he should be encouraged to apply for a 12 months Kennelhand licence which would require his
supervision by a licensed trainer. The decision to grant such a licence rested with the Director of
Regulation but should be refused if it appeared that there was substantial unbiased evidence
of cruelty involved in the 2005/6 incident of which the Disciplinary Committee were unaware.
3.
*Perry Barr Stadium – CLONADRUM BETS – REGISTERED SALES AGENT MR N HEHIR
Registered Sales Agent Mr Noel Hehir was found in breach of rules 152 (i), 174 (i)(b) and 217 in that a urine sample taken from the greyhound CLONADRUM BETS at Perry Barr Stadium on 7 February 2011 was analysed by LGC Ltd. as containing the presence of nandrolone and noretiocholanolone. Mr Hehir was not in attendance. Mr Martin Seal racing manager of Perry Barr Stadium, apologised for his non-attendance.
Some of the GBGB rules of racing impose strict liability on the trainer or registered sales agent.
Having considered his written explanation together with the circumstances of the case, the
Disciplinary Committee ordered that Mr Hehir be cautioned and fined £500.
4.
*Shawfield Stadium – MARKEYS PRINCE – GREYHOUND TRAINER MR T CLEMENTS
Greyhound Trainer Mr Thomas Clements was found in breach of rules 152 (i), 174 (i)(a), 216 and 217 in that a urine sample taken from the greyhound MARKEYS PRINCE at Shawfield Stadium on 11 February 2011 was analysed by LGC Ltd. as containing the presence of methylprednisolone, and the administration of any substance that could affect the performance and/or wel being of the greyhound. Mr Clements and Mr Daniel Rankin, racing manager of Shawfield Stadium, apologised for their non-attendance. The Disciplinary Committee found it unhelpful that there was conflicting evidence from Mr Clements and his vet, Mr Inglis in terms of whether the dog received an injection of methylprednisolone on 20 November 2010 or 27 November 2010. This affected their view on the gravity of the breach. However, notwithstanding that Mr Clements had apparently rested the dog for 11-12 weeks after the injection, the Disciplinary Committee felt that the Trainer’s s failure to maintain his Treatment Book was significant and if properly completed would have likely enabled the Committee to resolve the conflict in terms of the date of the injection. The Committee took the view that there was no excuse for the Treatment Book not carrying an entry for this treatment, particularly given the small number of dogs in Mr Clement’s kennel. Having considered his written explanation together with the circumstances of the case, the Disciplinary Committee ordered that Mr Clements be cautioned and fined the sum of £500; (£250 in respect of the positive sample and £250 in respect of his failure to maintain his Treatment Book).

Source: http://www.gbgb.biz/files/DC%20Inquiry%20Results%20-%20160611.pdf