Greyhound trainer convicted of possessing controlled animal remedies

A Co Galway greyhound trainer has been fined €7,000 and given two suspended prison sentences after he was convicted of being in possession of controlled animal remedies.

Gerry Holian of Raheen, Athenry, was prosecuted by the Department of Agriculture for impeding department officers by giving false information on the origin of the drugs and to being in possession of a variety of animal remedies at his premises without authorisation and against European Commission regulations on dates in February, March and April of 2018.

At Loughrea District Court on Monday Mr Holian faced almost 40 summonses in total and was convicted on four of them relating to possession of the controlled drugs. The others were withdrawn. The animal remedies included steroids.

Department officials had seized a cache of these remedies during a raid on Mr Holian’s property.