County Galway-based trainer Ger Lynch has had his licence removed for three months after a Turf Club investigation established he had falsified vaccination paperwork for a number of horses.

After concerns arose over the vaccination pages on the passports of two horses that ran at Kilbeggan in June of last year, a random inspection of Lynch's yard near Craughwell found that vaccination entries on the passports of five horses in all were made by a veterinary surgeon who does not exist.

Lynch admitted to Turf Club security officials that the stamps that were used for vaccination entries were not authentic.

He also said he had purchased vaccinations and administered them himself in order to save money.

Lynch said he had been administering vaccinations himself since 2011, and fully accepted that what he did was wrong.

The trainer said he had received the veterinary stamp from a third party who used to ride out for him but who he was now unable to contact.

Veterinary work

Lynch apologised at a

Referrals Committee

hearing on Thursday, and said all his horses were now vaccinated by a vet who is responsible for all his veterinary work.

The Referrals Committee accepted Lynch had co-operated fully with the Turf Club investigation, but described the falsification of records as “an extremely serious matter”.

It withdrew Lynch’s licence to train for three months from May 28th to August 27th, and stressed the importance of Lynch ensuring his affairs were in order prior to reapplying for a licence.