A greyhound trainer who was verbally abusive and refused to allow a greyhound be tested for prohibited substances was fined just €2,000 and allowed to continue his involvement in racing.

A report published on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website provides details about a Control Committee meeting which heard that “the greyhound named Deelish Paddy, owned and trained by the Northern Ireland Licensed Trainer, Mr. Dean McComb, competed in a race at Dundalk Greyhound Stadium on the 8th of June 2021 [and] as the greyhound ran very poorly in the race in question the track Veterinary Surgeon examined the greyhound and reported there was no sign of injury to the greyhound but there were signs of incoordination.”

Read the report at https://www.grireland.ie/globalassets/rescource-centre/reports/control/december---2021.pdf

In video footage of the race, the greyhound can be seen running across the grass within the interior of the track.

“The Control Steward on duty on the night Mr Leo Temple, advised Mr Dean McComb that he wished to obtain a urine sample from the greyhound,” the December 2021 Control Committee report continued. “Mr McComb became verbally abusive and refused to allow the greyhound to be sampled. Mr McComb also acted in an aggressive manner when the officials at Dundalk Greyhound Stadium refused to release the identity card of the greyhound.”

It goes on to outline how Belfast-based McComb also “refused the Stipendiary Steward access to the greyhound the following day for the purposes of conducting a welfare inspection and to obtain a urine sample from the greyhound”.

In its conclusion, the Control Committee said it was “in no doubt that the officials were obstructed and impeded by Mr Dean McComb in carrying out their regulatory duties” and that he was in breach of the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations.

They fined him €1,500 for a breach of Article 29 (4) of the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007. Article 29 (4) states: “Should the owner, trainer or their agents or the person in charge of the greyhound or any other person obstruct or impede the taking of a sample under this article of the Regulations, the Control Committee may make an Exclusion Order under Section 47 of the Act against such person and, in addition, may disqualify in the manner laid down in Section 45 of the Act any or all greyhounds, kept, owned, trained or managed by such person.”

They also fined him €500 for a breach of Article 7 of the Greyhound Industry (Racing) (Amendment) Regulations 2016. Section 7 refers to anyone “who acts in a violent or improper manner towards any official, authorised officer, board member or any other member of staff employed at any race track or stadium licensed or operated by the Board.”

In relation to a breach of Article 5(1) of the Greyhound Industry (Racing) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, the Control Committee “decided not to impose an additional sanction on Mr. McComb”.

Article 5(1) states that “the person making the entry shall state on the entry form or inform the race track executive where the greyhound may be inspected. By entering a greyhound to race or trial at a track licensed by the Board, the owner, trainer and/or agent of the greyhound consents to the inspection of the greyhound, and to samples being taken from the greyhound, by an authorised officer of the Board wherever the greyhound is kennelled (whether at the registered premises at time of entry or not) and whether before or after such race. Where such a greyhound is determined not to be present at the registered premises at the time of entry by an authorised officer of the Board, or where an owner, trainer or agent of the greyhound does not provide reasonable facilities, including access to the registered kennels and greyhounds contained therein, any such greyhound shall be immediately withdrawn from any trial or race in which the greyhound happens to be entered”.

McComb was NOT prohibited from further involvement in greyhound racing. Instead, the Control Committee “directed that samples be obtained from greyhounds under Mr. Dean McComb's care when presented for racing at Rasalocht Con Eireann Licensed [Greyhound Racing Ireland] Stadia for a period of six months”.

His profile page on the Greyhound Racing Ireland website shows that he has had 145 recorded race entries and 17 recorded winners, including one in 2022. Most recently, a greyhound he trained finished first in a race at Drumbo Park stadium in Northern Ireland on 7 May 2022.

ACTION ALERT

Don’t go greyhound racing.

STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING

Join us in demanding an end to the government’s massive grants that are keeping cruel greyhound racing afloat. Greyhound Racing Ireland has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers’ money since 2001, including €16.8 million for 2020, €19.2 million for 2021 and €17.6 million for 2022. This is unacceptable and must be stopped. Contact the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Finance Minister now.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01-618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie; minister@finance.gov.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 604 5626
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Paschald

Please sign and share the petitions

Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry

GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks

Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing