Shark Hanlon handed lengthy ban and fine over damaging the 'good reputation of horseracing'
Back in June, Hanlon apologised for any distress caused over a video posted online which shows one of his horseboxes pulling a dead horse uncovered in a trailer
Trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon has been hit with a huge 10-month ban and fined €2,000 by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board for damaging the 'good reputation of horseracing'. Back in June, Hanlon apologised for any distress caused over a video posted online which shows one of his horseboxes pulling a dead horse uncovered in a trailer through an Irish village.
The Carlow man offered an explanation at the time, saying that tarp covering the horse's corpse came undone while the animal was being transported to a licensed animal-disposal facility.
"All of the horses in my yard are very well cared for. Unfortunately, one of our horses died in his sleep and like all deceased animals it had to be transported to a licensed animal-disposal facility," he said in a statement to the Irish Mirror. "Regrettably, while in transit, a tarp covering the horse came undone. It is never pleasant to see a deceased animal, and I’m sorry for any distress this may have caused."
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However, the case was heard by the referrals committee last week, where Hanlon's evidence was also heard, and the IHRB published their findings on Thursday afternoon.
Justice Tony Hunt did explain that half of the suspension from training could be suspended if Hanlon completely withdraws from all training-related activity for the first five months.
After an initial IHRB investigation, Hanlon was charged with a number of breaches of Rule 272 (i) (acting in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct, or good reputation of the sport), Rule 272 (ii) (the provision of false or misleading information to investigating IHRB officials), Rule 273 (xiii) (actions prejudicial to the interests of the IHRB or likely to cause serious damages to horse racing in Ireland), and Rule 148 (I) (being responsible for the failure of a veterinary surgeon retained by the trainer to complete an entry in the passport of the deceased animal regarding the previous administration of a medical product prohibited in a food-producing animal).
The committee concluded that Hanlon was grossly negligent in the supervision of the horse carcass on the day in question and attempts to cover the carcass with tarpaulin using a bungee cord and concrete bricks was 'obviously entirely inadequate'.
They also noted that the incident arose in the same week that RTE had aired a 'Prime Time Investigates' show in relation to equine welfare issues.
The board concluded: "The fundamental fact of this matter is Mr Hanlon indulged in an unacceptable level of risk-taking in the means of transport of the deceased animal resulting to the significant reputational damage referred to above."
Mr Hanlon has seven days to lodge an appeal against the decision.
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