The former Bord na gCon chairman is suing RTÉ reporter Charlie Bird over his broadcasts about an alleged doping cover-up within the state body, it emerged today.
Paschal Taggart claimed before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the chief news correspondent was wrong to link the sacking of chief executive Aidan Tynan with the doping controversy.
Mr Taggart told the public spending watchdog that he was amazed that a letter of grievance by Mr Tynan to the Sports Minister miraculously fell into the hands of Mr Bird.
The businessman announced his resignation after a decade in the greyhound body this week.
He said today: "Mr Bird then proceeded to erroneously link the decision of Aidan Tynan to his stance on EPO drugs." Mr Taggart continued: "I believe Charlie Bird started all this, but I intend to finish it."
Mr Taggart also claimed Labour leader Pat Rabbitte made allegations against him in the Dáil for political gain.
He said the TD had demanded his resignation before the Government-commissioned Dalton Report into the controversies had been published.
After being warned by PAC chairman Michael Noonan that his comments were not protected by full parliamentary privilege, Mr Taggart continued: "He has made allegations which are damaging to the industry and he uses the privilege afforded to him in the Dáil to have snipes at me as chairman.
"He makes these allegations in my opinion to score political points," he added.
The businessman said he has invited Mr Rabbitte to the Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park every year but he never turns up even though several political leaders attend.
Bord na gCon members appeared before PAC to discuss financial accounts and recent controversies.
Mr Taggart claimed that Mr Tynan was sacked as CEO for several reasons and not exclusively over his stance on the dope testing controversy.
"Mr Tynan was unable to carry out the duties of the CEO according to the board's strategy," he said. "The CEO's failure to address issues which undermined the entire industry could have ruined all the achievements of the past ten years."
Mr Taggart said he found Sports Minister John O'Donoghue very supportive of the greyhound industry and a regular visitor to events.
The former chairman claimed that he has transformed the greyhound industry since being appointed by the Rainbow government in 1995.
He said attendance at meetings reached 1.4 million in 2005 and may exceed the horseracing industry this year.
Former civil servant Tim Dalton was appointed by Minister O'Donoghue to inquire into general corporate governance issues within Bord na gCon, the doping of racing greyhounds and the dismissal of Mr Tynan last January.
Mr O'Donoghue set up the inquiry into Bord na gCon after chief executive Mr Tynan was sacked in controversial circumstances.