A horse trainer has been fined €3,500 after breaching coronavirus guidelines to attend the Grand National.
Jessica Harrington has also been prohibited from attending racecourses for two weeks after breaching the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board's Covid-19 protocols when travelling to Aintree last month.
According to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), the penalty was handed out following a referral held virtually yesterday (Monday).
The IRHB said it had become aware Mrs Harrington had travelled to the Grand National without residing in the "Irish bubble", as required.
Mrs. Harrington told the committee her intention was to travel to Aintree from her home on the morning of the race and return to Ireland that evening, and therefore not be required to enter the bubble.
Just days before the Grand National, she added, she decided that making the journey to Aintree in one day would be too exhausting.
She changed her plans to travel on the Friday instead and use the opportunity to carry out some independent business with owners by viewing a horse they had requested her to look at, and she accepted an offer to stay at their accommodation.
Mrs. Harrington said she felt at the time that she wasn’t breaking the rules as she never entered the Irish bubble on the race day but now accepts that she was in breach of the protocols.
Having considered the evidence, the committee was satisfied the 74-year-old was in breach of the rule.
In determining the appropriate sanction, Justice Groarke said a breach of these protocols could have enormous consequences for racing in Ireland.
Mrs Harrington was fined €3,500, which equates to around just over £3,000.
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