Request for Reciprocation of Penalty imposed by the
British Horseracing Authority

The Referrals Committee, Justice Tony Hunt (in the Chair), Philip Caffrey and N.B. Wachman met at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 on Thursday, 5th October 2017 to consider a request from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to reciprocate penalties imposed on Stephen McConville and Michael McConville following a hearing before the BHA’s disciplinary panel on 19th September 2017.

The BHA disciplinary panel had found both in breach of a number of rules including Rules (G)2.1, 2.5, 2.6, Rule (A)31.2 and Rule (C) 28 as a result of issues surrounding the withdrawal of An Seanachai Cliste at Cheltenham on 17th March 2017. As a result both were disqualified for a period of three years with effect from 19th September 2017.

The committee considered a submission from Cliodhna Guy, who outlined the relevant Rules which both Stephen and Michael McConville were found in breach of. She said that no appeal had been lodged against the sanction imposed by the BHA and had been notified of the request for reciprocation and confirmed that they were happy for today’s hearing to go ahead in their absence.

Having considered the submission, the Referrals Committee noted that there were very limited grounds upon which the McConville’s could ask that the penalty not be reciprocated and that they had not put forward any grounds for the committee to consider. In view of this, the Referrals Committee agreed to the reciprocation of the penalties imposed by the British Horseracing Authority and as such the disqualification imposed on both Stephen McConville and Michael McConville for a period of three years from 19th September 2017 to 18th September 2020 was reciprocated.

The case was presented by Cliodhna Guy, Head of Licensing, Legal and Compliance.