Denis Egan rejects acting on 'tittle-tattle' relayed by Weld in Gordon case

Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board chief executive Denis Egan rejected claims made by senior counsel John Rogers, representing the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, that he acted on "tittle-tattle" that had been reported to him by trainer Dermot Weld.

Egan had claimed in the High Court on Wednesday, and again on Thursday, that Weld telephoned him on August 23, 2014 to inform him that IRTA boss Michael Grassick was lobbying trainers to sign a petition calling for the removal of Chris Gordon, the regulator’s chief of security. Gordon is suing the IRTA for defamation and the alleged petition is one of the key strands in the case.

Rogers told the High Court on Thursday the IRTA denies such a petition ever existed and claimed Egan should have looked into the matter further before pursuing it.

The court has heard that, off the back of Egan's claim that Weld informed him of a petition for Gordon's removal, the IHRB drafted a letter through Beachcroft Solicitors threatening legal proceedings on the IRTA.

Dermot Weld: reported to have been in contact with Denis Egan regarding Chris GordonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It was at this point Rogers asserted the IHRB was acting on "tittle-tattle about a so-called petition", which was rejected by Egan.

"When a trainer of Mr Weld's stature rings you and tells you that the chief executive of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association turned up at his office and asked him to sign a petition, I would not regard that as tittle-tattle,” Egan said.

“I would have huge respect for Mr Weld. He took the trouble of saying that to me. It was obviously not out of the blue."

Rogers then criticised Egan for not contacting Grassick on the matter before the IHRB threatened legal proceedings on the IRTA just four days later on August 27.

Egan claimed the prospect of a petition, along with a previous phone call he had with Meade in which the trainer allegedly called for Gordon's suspension, helped him "join up the dots". Egan told the court it was his belief the petition formed part of a campaign on behalf of the IRTA against Gordon.

The case, which was initiated by Gordon almost six years ago and is being heard by Mr Justice Barton, is expected to last another two weeks. Costs had recently been estimated at being in the region of €600,000 but the protracted nature of proceedings is expected to see the final bill come in considerably higher.

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