As might have been predicted, Ireland’s greyhound folk have acted with fury and defiance following the IGB’s decision to sell off Harolds Cross in order to bail them out of a €21m debt writes Floyd Amphlett.
There is a protest planned at the Irish parliament The Dail on Thursday (meeting 12.30pm at Muswells Hotel in Dublin). More picketing of Shelbourne Park is being promised, a fighting fund has been set up with Paschal Taggart and Ted Hegarty among the first contributors. The following statement appeared on the IGOBF website this morning.
Leading Galway greyhound owner, PJ Fahy of Tyrur fame, has confirmed that he fully supports the Dublin Greyhound Owners and will not be running any of his dogs in Shelbourne Park on Saturday night. However he states that he will actually be coming to Shelbourne Park himself on Saturday evening to join the picket in solidarity with the owners.
Top trainer Pat Buckley has also added his voice to the cause and also says that none of his dogs will be in Shelbourne Park on Saturday. Pat will also be on the picket on Saturday evening.
Ted Hegarty, who has been a bookmaker and leading sponsor at Harold’s Cross for many years, was staggered by the news of its sudden of Harold Cross. Ted is fully supportive of the greyhound owners and will not pass the picket.
On hearing of the gates being locked and the removal of traps, he said: “I’m in a state of shock. I was half-expecting the Board to close it but I reckoned it would be on a temporary basis. But surely this is going too far?
“I’ve sponsored events at Harold’s Cross for many years and my son Tadhg is currently a bookmaker there. But this is the end of all that. I will never sponsor another event in the Irish greyhound industry and that includes the Night of Stars at Shelbourne Park.”
Further claims suggest that a number of other industry sponsors including stud keeper Michael Dunne, Greyhound & Pet World, plus PJ Fahy have already pledged to cancel future support.
Meanwhile this clever video has appeared on YouTube
