Fenton case adjourned until after Cheltenham festival

Lawyers for a leading Irish racehorse trainer have told a court there are issues regarding summonses issued against him over the alleged possession of banned animal remedies including steroids.

Philip Fenton, of Garryduff, South Lodge, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, faces eight charges over treatments and medicines allegedly found at his yard in January 2012.

The case against the 49-year-old was adjourned at Carrick-on-Suir District Court until after next month's Cheltenham festival.

Declan Molan, solicitor for Mr Fenton, told the court he wished to make submissions "in relation to the summonses themselves".

Judge Terence Finn granted four weeks to allow submissions to be written and filed with the prosecution.

“If the submissions affect this court’s jurisdiction to deal with this matter that is a matter that has to be taken in advance,” the judge said.

The case was adjourned until March 20th. The court was told 12 to 15 witnesses are expected to be called in the case, including one witness from France.

No plea has been entered and Mr Fenton did not attend the brief hearing in Carrick-on-Suir courthouse.

The prosecution is being taken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine following an inspection of his yard on January 18th, 2012.

John Ryan, junior counsel for the State, objected to the adjournment.

“It’s only very recently we have heard anything about this. It’s a very vague and nebulous thing, I say, to prevent the hearing of the matter that may or may not go to the jurisdiction of the case,” Mr Ryan said.

Submissions from the defence must be submitted one week before the case is mentioned again in the District Court, the judge said.

Mr Fenton faces eight charges in relation to alleged possession of Nitrotain and Ilium Stanabolic and prescription medicines including Engemycin 10%, Neomycin Penicillin, Marbocyl 10%.

PA