Charles Coakley Referral Random stable inspection - 22nd January 2014  

The Referrals Committee, Judge Tony Hunt (in the chair), Philip Caffrey and Nicholas Lambert met in the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on Wednesday, 16th April 2014, to consider whether or not Charles Coakley, Trainer, was in breach of any rules as a result of a random stable inspection carried out at his Training Establishment on 22nd January 2014 by Turf Club officials Michael O’Donoghue and Nicola O’Connor M.R.C.V.S.  

During the inspection the Turf Club Officials found that:  

i) The Training Establishment from which he was operating was not the Training Establishment specified on his most recent licence application.

ii) There was no Medicines Register.

iii) Medicines were not kept under lock and key.

iv) There was no evidence of the stable employees bonus scheme completed return being displayed on the premises.  

The matter was referred to the Referrals Committee by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club.  

Evidence was heard from Michael O’Donoghue and Charles Coakley. The Committee also considered a written report on the visit which was completed by Michael O’Donoghue and Nicola O’Connor M.R.C.V.S.  

In his evidence Michael O’Donoghue outlined what was found on the visit. He said when he called to Charles Coakley’s Training Establishment, it was no longer there and there were now holiday homes on the site. He eventually discovered where Mr. Coakley was now training and this establishment was located almost 2 kilometres away by road. He said that the new stables were about half a kilometre away from the old stables as the crow flies. Mr. O’Donoghue said that the new yard has subsequently been inspected and was now registered as Mr. Coakley’s Training Establishment.  

Mr. O’Donoghue said that there were a number of other matters which were not in order at the inspection, namely the fact that there was no Medicines Register, medicines were not kept under lock and key and there was no evidence of the stable employees’ bonus return being displayed. Mr. O’Donoghue said that Mr. Coakley cooperated fully with the investigation.  

In his evidence Charles Coakley said that he was unaware that he had to register the new yard as it was located on the same land folio as the old yard.  He said he had notified his insurance company of the new yard and that there were no insurance issues.  He said he accepted the other points made by Mr. O’Donoghue with regard to the matters that needed to be addressed.

Having considered the evidence, the Committee found that Charles Coakley was in breach of Rule 147(vi) as he was training from an unregistered Training Establishment and fined him €350. In arriving at the level of the fine the Committee said they were satisfied that Mr. Coakley was not trying to mislead anyone. They also found him in breach of Rule 148(iii)(a) and (b) with regard to the failure to keep medicines under lock and key and to maintain a Medicines Register. He was fined €130 in respect of each breach and also ordered to pay €130 in costs. In addition he was cautioned with regard to his failure to display the stable employee's bonus scheme return.  

The case was presented by Conal Boyce, Solicitor, Naas, Co. Kildare.