Sir, I read with a degree of sadness the 50 year old top greyhound vet, Daniel Doherty, now ensconced in Wormwood Scrubs jail for a sentence of three and a half years, increased from the initial perfunctory non-custodial sentence of twelve months, suspended with a community service attached.
It’s always extremely sad to witness a former top professional man, in this case one of the top greyhound vets in the country, hitting life’s nadir and going to jail with his reputation in tatters. As a former Prison Governor, nothing in life surprises me anymore, suffice to say it’s hard to figure out just why those at the top throw it all away so easily. I have locked up many top professional people, for example, Lester Piggott, Geoffrey Archer, MP’s, Solicitors, Pharmacists, Bank Managers, etc. For some it’s pure greed, others the “green eyed monster,” relationship jealously, drink related matters, more common now these days are drug offences.
Daniel got himself involved with the undesirable Stokes brothers and the nefarious puppy farm trade with dog lovers paying up to £750 for seriously ill puppies, some with the Parvovirus and dying, Doherty’s canard in certifying the health and antecedents of these litters then involved himself with over 4,500 spurious vet’s certificates and a scam involving netting a scandalous £2.5 million from innocent dog lovers.
It has been reported that Doherty himself was paid some £75,000. As he sits in cell now he will no doubt have time to reflect on his deeds, possible greed, as many others in life involve themselves with, but will that compensate for his ruined career and reputation as one of the top greyhound vets in the country, a man who did so much for so many dogs and salvaged the racing career’s of so many top greyhounds? We all make personal mistakes in life, most times with no great effect or damage to others. On this occasion there has been great damage caused to others and, therefore, abject cruelty to puppies, kept in the most abhorrent conditions by these flagitious criminals involved in this vile and despicable puppy farm trade.
Doherty’s sentence will pass quickly, he will be classified a lower security category “C” Inmate, after six months probably a category “D” inmate and transferred to an open prison such as Leyhill or Sudbury in Derbyshire, that’s the easy part, but the stigma of this abhorrent offence will stick, as most offender’s discover that it’s harder outside jail than inside one, whatever category establishment the sentence is served in. It is sad to witness the demise of a top professional, but as I said over decades to thousands of prisoners, it was your choice, no one forced you and in this case no lame excuses about financial pressures from a man who could earn any amount he wanted from his top greyhound veterinary business.
Michael Kelly
Monmore Green Owner
Birmingham B14
