Bord na gCon faces inquiry by auditor

The Comptroller and Auditor General is planning a comprehensive investigation into alleged irregularities at Bord na gCon, the greyhound racing board.

Bord na gCon, which administers and regulates the sport in the Republic, has been at the centre of a public row since January resulting from a dog-doping controversy and its decision to dismiss chief executive, Aidan Tynan. Its chairman, Paschal Taggart, is due to step down today.

Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) John Purcell told a Dáil committee yesterday that his office intends examining a range of issues raised during the recent inquiry by former Department of Justice secretary general Tim Dalton into the causes of the controversy.

Speaking at a Committee of Public Accounts hearing, Mr Purcell said that the investigation would include the refurbishment of Shelbourne Park stadium in Dublin between 2000 and 2002.

His office will also look at issues included in the original terms of reference given to consultants Pricewaterhousecoopers by the board when it asked that firm to review some contracts two years ago.

Mr Purcell told the committee that his investigation would cover the awarding of certain contracts during the Shelbourne Park redevelopment and some advertising and publicity agreements. "The latest refurbishment of Shelbourne Park involved payments to a firm which was to carry out works there, but which was subsequently scratched."

Two years ago, a company which got free advertising at a Dublin track gave Mazda cars to two of its senior managers. One of them returned the car. The other kept his vehicle, but continued to charge the board for travelling expenses.

According to its financial controller, Michael Foley, the board understood the man had returned the car, but when he discovered that this was not the case, Mr Foley recouped the travelling costs and ensured that the manager paid €11,333 in benefit-in-kind tax.

During the Shelbourne refurbishment, the board ordered a new generator for the track. One of the track's staff was a director of the company that supplied the machine. After it was delivered, it emerged that it had been sold a generator that was over 20 years old, but which had been newly repainted.

Committee chairman Michael Noonan asked if the board had reported this to the Garda. Mr Foley said its legal advice was that it would have been futile to do this.

The C&AG is charged with overseeing the financial management of Government departments and a number of State bodies, including Bord na gCon.

Yesterday's hearing was held to examine the board's 2005 accounts. It also dealt with Mr Dalton's report, which covered Mr Tynan's dismissal and a disciplinary hearing in November at which two trainers, Paul Hennessy and John Kiely, were fined after their dogs tested positive for performance-enhancing drug erythropoietin (EPO).

Contrary to normal practice, Bord na gCon did not publish details of that hearing. In January, Mr Tynan wrote to Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue, informing him of the fines and the board's decision not to publish its findings in relation to the two trainers. The board dismissed him shortly afterwards, but Mr Taggart has consistently denied that the two events were connected. He reiterated this yesterday.

"The difficulties with Aidan Tynan arose in the summer of 2005. The board had become aware of specific changes which were being enforced, which were creating low morale amongst staff. The deteriorating financial position was of major concern to myself."