A GREYHOUND regarded as one of the favourites to win the Irish Greyhound Derby later this month, which was part-owned by a convicted drug smuggler, Christopher O'Connell, was the subject of an ownership dispute in the Cork Circuit Court this week.
Ms Patricia O'Connell, The Mews, Montenotte, Cork, had an ex parte application before the court seeking to have herself named as the two-thirds owner of Mountleader Peer.
The defendant was Ms Terry Manning of The Crescent, Rockfield, Blackrock, Cork, the representative of Northside Syndicate, the one-third owner of the dog which was bought last year for just over £3,000 at the Cork Greyhound Track Sales.
The court heard that Christopher O'Connell had transferred his ownership of the greyhound to his wife. If the greyhound wins the derby, the court heard, it will be worth at least £80,000. The prize on the night alone is valued at £50,000.
Ms Marjorie Farrelly, barrister told Judge Patrick Moran that while Ms O'Connell was now the two-thirds owner of the dog, Ms Manning hag failed to sign the identity papers listing her as such, as required by the Irish Coursing Club. It was important that this matter be attended to in view of the success of the greyhound.
Judge Moran ordered Ms Manning to sign the ownership form identifying Ms O'Connell as two-thirds owner and to forward it immediately to the Irish Coursing Club.
Christopher O'Connell is serving an eight-year sentence in Shelton Abbey for importing cannabis into Ireland.