Curragh trainer's partner banned for three months for abusive behaviour
Daniel Dunne, partner of and authorised representative for Curragh trainer Katy Brown, has been disqualified for six months – with three of those suspended – by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board after he was found to be abusive towards officials at Cork on April 3.
Dunne was sanctioned under rule 272 sections (i) and (iii), which pertain to bringing racing into disrepute and the abuse or intimidation of officials.
The IHRB documented a torrent of abuse directed at IHRB veterinary officer Nicola O’Connor after Brown’s Vento Del Drago ran in a 7f handicap on the day in question.
A horse went down in the stalls beside Vento Del Drago before the race and was subsequently withdrawn. Vento Del Drago was taken out of the stalls and examined by the racecourse veterinary officer Conor O’Brien, who deemed the filly fit to race.
Dunne later expressed his anger Vento Del Drago was not withdrawn and was found to be abusive to O’Connor and to some of the stewards on the day, storming out of the inquiry.
Liam Walsh, stipendiary steward at Cork, revealed he did his best to explain to Dunne why the filly was allowed to run and, despite the abusive response, he did not lodge a complaint.
O'Connor did make a complaint about Dunne's behaviour. As well as denying being abusive towards O'Connor, the report revealed that Dunne proceeded to insult and abuse the chairman and the stewards and left before the conclusion of the inquiry.
Dunne also became angry during the referral hearing, which was adjourned briefly to allow him the opportunity to compose himself. Upon his return, he and Brown apologised to the committee for his outburst.
Brown again apologised for Dunne's behaviour when he left the room after getting agitated for a second time and labelled him "hot-headed" and said he "had difficulty controlling his temper".
She also asked the committee to bear in mind in its deliberations that Dunne is her partner and the father of her child and that training horses is their livelihood, although she accepted the serious nature of the matter, particularly given that Dunne had been given a previous warning following a similar breach at Down Royal in 2018.
Dunne's disqualification, which means he cannot access any IHRB licensed premises, begins on May 28, while Brown also agreed to pay €500 in costs.
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