Industry News

Harold’s Cross greyhound stadium could be saved by injunction

Harold’s Cross greyhound stadium could be reopened after one of its directors took out an injunction to stop the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) from permanently closing the Dublin venue.

Alan Redmond, one of four independent directors, said he would argue that proper governance procedures were not followed when the IGB announced the stadium’s closure last month because there was no board meeting giving directors a chance to vote, the Independent.ie website reports.

He acknowledged that IGB representatives would have had enough votes to approve the closure, and said he was receiving legal advice before making a formal application.

“Harold’s Cross is there for 89 years, and hopefully we’ll keep it open for another 89 years,” Redmond said.

After the decision in February, the IGB said in a statement that the conclusion had been made in order to allow the organisation to focus on expanding the racing programme at the Shelbourne Park national stadium.

Pickets have been organised at Shelbourne Park four nights a week since the closure of Harold’s Cross.

The IGB said the closure and sale of Harold’s Cross would help to address the legacy debt burden that the body has had to deal with since the construction of Limerick Stadium in 2011. The project cost a total of €21m ($22.3m/£17.8m).

“The decision to cease racing at Harold’s Cross was made by the board of IGB and the decision to do so was within its remit,” an IGB spokesman said.