The Dublin Greyhound Owners & Breeder Association plan to intensify their protest against the Irish Government and Irish Greyhound Board by continuing their picket of Shelbourne Park writes Floyd Amphlett.
Thursday’s meeting of the Public Accounts Committee at The Dail threatens to be a passionate and stormy affair with greyhound supporters more bitter than ever at the treatment of the greyhound industry by the ruling coalition. Indeed many greyhound supporters believe that’s Fine Gael’s disinterest in, and mismanagement of, the greyhound industry will see the eventual cessation of greyhound racing in Ireland.
Ken Mann of DGOBA has issued for following statement:
Today’s news from the IGB that they have agreed terms of sale of Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium to the department of education has left us shocked. We were under no illusions that the track was to be put up for sale after the sudden closure, without any notice to patrons, trainers, owners, or without a meeting of the Harold’s Cross board, and the subsequent stripping of the track, in a manner akin to an aggressive receivership, carried out by the IGB on the 13th of February. But we were led to believe this sale would be transparent and all interested parties would be considered. The manner in which this sale has been conducted has prevented interested parties in purchasing Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium as a going concern and running it as privately owned stadia.
We must also ask the question, how could the IGB have received the best possible price for Harold’s Cross without a transparent public sale and how could it be sold as a going concern to a greyhound consortium?
We believe the board is carrying out a process of downsizing our industry. We believe the closure of other stadia around the country is imminent. This board have taken a bully approach from the very start to the DGOBA. This board will continue to ignore stakeholders views, will continue to carry out their agenda of downsizing our industry. This board have sent a clear message to every Trainer, Breeder, Owner and Supporter in this country that we the stakeholders do not matter, our views do not count and our commitment to this industry is taken for granted.
Democracy does not exist in the greyhound industry of this current board.
Our fight will continue. Our fight for justice will go on. We stood on the picket tonight outside the gates of Shelbourne Park and will continue to stand on our picket outside the gates of Shelbourne Park until we achieve justice and change for our great sport.
We call on minister’s Doyle and Creed to now review this decision and reverse it. This Thursday the 4th of May the IGB will be before the PAC, we will take this opportunity to gather at the gates of Leinster House in protest at the decisions being made by the board of the IGB. We need you now more than ever to support our campaign for change and Harold’s Cross. We need a massive show of strength to remind politicians that, the greyhound community matter.
This Thursday our WE WANT CHANGE protest will be from 9am. We call on every stakeholder from around the country to make a massive effort for this show of strength. Media will be in attendance at 11am.
Our fight goes on.
Yours in Sport
Ken Mann DGOBA
