Owners' body branded 'dysfunctional' as election process comes under scrutiny

The AGM of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners will on Tuesday see a motion tabled that proposes to allow any member of the association to be eligible to stand for election as its representative on the HRI board.

Currently only one of its 12-member council can stand for election. The association has been mired in what could prove a costly legal wrangle due to its election process, which has sparked further unrest.

James Mescall, a candidate for election to AIRO's council on Tuesday, has described the organisation as dysfunctional in the wake of a High Court challenge.

James Gough, one of the 12 council members whose four-year stint on the HRI board is due to expire this month, initiated legal proceedings against AIRO to stall the election of Caren Walsh as his successor on the board.

James Gough, the AIRO council and HRI board member who is taking legal action against the owners' group

He sought a High Court injunction to stop Walsh's appointment as he believed her nomination was a result of an undemocratic process, and that her name was the only one on a ballot paper circulated to members. He is also suing for costs and damages.

Gough is contesting the manner in which the AIRO constitution was changed in 2014 to allow only the 12 council members to propose and second a candidate from their own number for the HRI board.

He wanted to go before the membership for re-election this time but was prevented from doing so when none of his 11 fellow council members would second his nomination.

Gough also asked the minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, to intervene as it is within the minister's remit to rule on the original dispute, and the minister has subsequently requested and received submissions from both parties.

AIRO agreed in court not to proceed with Walsh's appointment until the minister had ruled on the matter, and it remains with him to determine.

The motion – proposed by restricted trainer Denis Coakley – for discussion on Tuesday night is designed to make the board nomination process more democratic, and there are also three new names looking to be added to AIRO's council on a similar basis.

Three seats are due to come up for election on the council, and Mescall, Stephen Thorne and Roy Clarke have been put forward on a collective ticket.

Owner James Mescall has accused AIRO of being dysfunctionalCredit: Caroline Norris

Mescall is secretary of the Irish Racehorse Claiming Association, while Clarke, a brother of trainer Keith, and Thorne, assistant to Ado McGuinness, are both proactive in creating and managing a raft of syndicates.

"Our fielding of three candidates is as much of a protest regarding what's being going on in the association recently as anything else," Mescall said.

"We believe the organisation is outdated, out of touch with reality and in the main a dysfunctional body. It's also not representative of the small owner as a whole."

Only AIRO members in attendance on the night are eligible to vote. The AGM is due to take place at 7pm at the offices of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association at Goffs and all members are encouraged to make their vote count.

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