Cian O'Connor hired bodyguards for 24-hour protection, and Equestrian Federation of Ireland president Avril Doyle organised round-the-clock security for all the team horses following threats and intimidation at last week's Dublin Horse Show, writes Grania Willis, Equestrian Correspondent.
"Some threats were made towards Cian and he felt it was necessary to have security," chairman of selectors Taylor Vard said yesterday.
O'Connor would not comment, but an informed source said the showjumper had "feared for his life and had hired 24-hour protection" after the threats.
Ms Doyle said she had also had concerns for the safety of the Irish team horses and arranged for them to be guarded. "I said I wanted a groom outside every box from seven o'clock on Thursday until after the Aga Khan," she said.
In a separate incident, allegations of cruelty to one of the Irish Army horses during the show made by the French team manager were rejected by an Army spokesman.
Jean-Maurice Bonneau, chef d'équipe of the French team at Dublin, said he saw three men in one of the stables on Sunday morning, "one of them holding the horse and two of them behind. It is my opinion that there was cruelty involved".
He reported the incident to his Irish equivalent, Eamon Rice, but did not make an official complaint.
Army press officer Cmdt Brian Cleary said yesterday the Equitation School was "aware of rumours and innuendos suggesting cruelty to animals" .
"There was an incident with a horse on Sunday . . . A groom was kicked and received a hand injury and two other grooms went in to assist. The inference that there was cruelty to animals is unfounded."