The Referrals Committee Dr. Gordon A. Holmes (in the Chair), Mrs. J.O. Onions and Mr. John Powell met in the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on 28th January 2010 to consider the referral of C. O’Donoghue, rider, in respect of an incident at Dundalk on 27th November 2009 where the Acting Stewards received a complaint from D.E. Mullins, apprentice jockey, after the running of the fifth race, that he had been physically attacked by C. O’Donoghue in the jockey room area. 

The matter was originally referred to the Chief Executive of the Turf Club for further investigation as there was a conflict in the evidence provided and the fact that Mr. J.S. Bolger, Master of D.E. Mullins, was not present at the meeting.  Following an investigation, the matter was subsequently referred by Mr. Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club, to the Referrals Committee.
 
Mr. Conal Boyce, Solicitor for the Turf Club outlined what had occurred at Dundalk and this version of events was accepted by Mr. Frank Ward, Solicitor acting on behalf of C. O’Donoghue.  The latter accepted that there was an altercation in the jockey room area and that he had physically attacked D.E. Mullins.  It was also accepted that the complaint made by D.E. Mullins was a valid complaint. 

Having considered the evidence, the Committee indicated that offences that take place in the weighroom/jockey room area are exceptionally serious.  They did, however, take into account the attitude of C. O’Donoghue and that he had admitted the offence through his solicitor.  They also noted that C. O’Donoghue had apologised to D.E. Mullins for what had happened.  Taking all of the above into consideration, the Committee found C. O’Donoghue in breach of Rule 272 and suspended him for three race days (26th February, 12th and 21st March 2010).