Cronin considering legal action against GBGB

Chris Cronin: "suffered stress"

  PICTURE: Steve Nash  

CHRIS CRONIN, whose Brentwood kennels were quarantined for ten days by the GBGB whilst tests for canine distemper were analysed, yesterday hit out at the way the situation was handled by the greyhound authorities and confirmed he is contemplating taking legal action overthe matter.

In a statement the Essex handler said: “It appears the GBGB acted on an allegation by an owner . . . and such action was taken without any visit to my kennels by them.

“On receiving legal advice I obtained my own veterinary report which rebuffed the unfounded allegations against me . . . the GBGB by then [had] instigated their own veterinary report which was completely negative.

“The conditions the GBGB have subsequently detailed to me when confirming the withdrawal of their quarantine are no more than common sense measures with regard to the care of all dogs in my kennel.

“I have suffered considerable distress and financialloss over these allegations which I am considering . . . pursuing further. I do not believe any of my dogs have ever been at risk and this sorry process has done nothing other than to cause serious harm to my reputation and kennels.

“I feel very bitter at the way in which the GBGB conducted themselves by acting on an unsupported allegation which has resulted in the financial losses I have referred to.

“I am grateful to all my owners who have given me support over this difficult time and in this respect I hope to have all dogs running in the near future.”

Declan Donnelly, GBGB director of regulation, said the organisation had acted responsibly. “The quarantine placed over Mr Cronin's premises and those of one other licensed trainer was done so on our own veterinary advice,” he said.

“It was lifted as soon as practically possible after the receipt of test results ordered by the Greyhound Regulatory Board and none of our actions have been taken in any way as the result of external pressures applied.

 “Although we are unable to go into detail on this matter we are absolutely satisfied that there were reasonable grounds to have ordered those tests and in the circumstances the decision to quarantine was the only sensible precaution.

“These decisions were not taken lightly and certainly not on the basis ofan 'unsupported allegation' as Mr Cronin suggests.”