Greyhound trainer convicted of possessing controlled animal remedies

Gerry Holian from Athenry fined €7,000 and given two suspended prison sentences

Gerry Holian leaves Loughrea District Court, where he was given two fines of €3,500 and two three-month prison sentences, suspended for two years
Gerry Holian leaves Loughrea District Court, where he was given two fines of €3,500 and two three-month prison sentences, suspended for two years

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 The others were withdrawn.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.

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Mr Holian was given two fines of €3,500 as well as two three-month prison sentences, suspended for two years.