The Referrals Committee, Judge Tony Hunt (in the Chair), Sean Barry and Philip Caffrey met at the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on Thursday, 21st August 2014 to consider the referral of Martin Cullinane, Trainer, by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club following a random stable inspection carried out at his Training Establishment on 24th July 2014 by Turf Club Officials, Michael O’Donoghue and Nicola O’Connor MRCVS.  During the inspection the officials discovered that:

1. Nine horses returned in training namely Artic Slave, Bridge of Lackagh, Definite Surprise, Haaf Ok, Isle of Gold, Keep the Dosh, Native Brook, Seans Promise and Secret Passage were no longer under his care and should have been returned out of training.

2. There was no secure medicines unit and that Noroprim and Depocillan were found loose on site. Evidence was heard from Martin Cullinane, Michael O’Donoghue and Andrew Tyrrell MRCVS. The Committee also considered a written report on the visit which had was completed by Michael O’Donoghue and Nicola O’Connor MRCVS.

In his evidence Michael O’Donoghue confirmed the findings of the inspection report in relation to the horses not returned out of training of which all were the property of Mr. Cullinane.

In his evidence Andrew Tyrrell said that the substances found on the premises were routine prescription antibiotics.

In his evidence Mr. Cullinane said that he had returned 13 horses out of training in August 2013 and due to an oversight, some of the horses in question should have been returned out of training then and that two of the mares since had foals.  He said that he accepted the findings of the inspection report.

Having considered the evidence the Committee found that Mr Cullinane was not in breach of Rule 148(vi) in respect of Haaf Ok, Keep The Dosh and Secret Passage but found him to be in breach of Rule 148(vi) in the case of Artic Slave, Bridge of Lackagh, Definite Surprise, Isle of Gold, Native Brook and Seans Promise. The Committee therefore fined him €130 in respect of each horse not returned out of training (€780 in total).  He was also cautioned in respect of the breach of Rule 148(iii)(a).

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