The Referrals Committee, Justice Tony Hunt (in the chair), Philip Caffrey and Philip McLernon met at the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on Tuesday, 22nd August 2017, to consider whether or not Sean Thomas Doyle, Restricted Trainer, was in breach of any rules as a result of a stable inspection carried out at his Training Establishment on 15th February 2017 by Turf Club officials, Michael O’Donoghue and Noeleen O’Brien.
During the inspection, a number of anomalies arose which included:
(i) Failure to register two staff members in accordance with Rule 149 (i) & (ii).
(ii) Failure to ensure appropriate safety equipment was worn by two riders when riding out horses as required under Rule 148 (v) (b).
(iii) Failure to display the most recent S.E.B.S payment in a staff work place as required by Rule 298 (5).
(iv) Failure to endorse passports of 31 horses (25 named horses and 6 unnamed horses) as required under Regulation 8(A)(2)(A).
(v) Failure to comply with Regulation 8(A)(2)(B) as 13 of the 31 passports presented had vaccinations out of date, three of the passports required a vaccination line to be rewritten. Three of the 31 named horses and one unnamed horse required amendments to their markings.
(vi) Failure to comply with Rule 148 (iii)(b) as the veterinary medicines register lacked detail for the number of horses in the yard. No worm doses were recorded. Only 9 horses had records inserted since 2015. One horse was observed standing in his stall having just overcome a wind operation. The wound was weeping. No medication was admitted to being used in this case.
The matter was referred to the Referrals Committee by Cliodhna Guy, Head of Legal and Compliance.
Evidence was heard from Michael O’Donoghue and Sean Thomas Doyle. The Committee also considered a written report on the stable inspection.
In his evidence Michael O’Donoghue outlined the deficiencies identified during the visit.
In giving his evidence Sean Thomas Doyle explained the background to the various deficiencies.
Having considered the evidence the Referrals Committee found that Sean Thomas Doyle was in breach of the following Rules for reasons outlined above:
- Rule 149(i) & (ii) – fine imposed €260
- Rule 148(v)(b) – fine imposed €400 in total
- Rule 298 5 – fine imposed €130
- Regulation 8(A)(2)(A) and 8(A)2(B) – fine imposed €130
- Rule 148(iii)(b) – fine imposed €130
They also ordered that he make a contribution of €200 towards the Turf Club’s costs.
The case was presented Cliodhna Guy, solicitor, Head of Legal and Compliance.