A Galway greyhound trainer facing over 40 summonses for allegedly being in possession of controlled animal remedies, including steroids, has appeared before Loughrea District Court.
Gerry Holian, of Raheen, Athenry, is being prosecuted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for impeding department officers by giving false information on the origin of the drugs and to being in possession of a variety of animal remedies at his premises without authorisation and against European Commission regulations on dates in February, March and April of last year.
Among the remedies seized by department officials from Mr Holian were Stanozol, Rexogin, Aquazolol, Calm P, 4 Fillies and Drive, substances with androgenic action, some of them steroids.
In the absence of State Solicitor Thomas McLoughlin, Mr Holian's solicitor, Angela Dempsey, asked for statements in relation to the case against her client.
She further informed the court that her client had sought information under the Freedom of Information Act to find out how RTÉ got information for an investigative programme aired by the broadcaster last June.
That RTÉ Investigates programme reported on the number of suspected illegal animal remedies that had been seized nationwide in raids by the department, including raids on Mr Holian's property.
She said it was worrying that the broadcaster could use information that could only have been given to it by the department.
She further added that the department now claimed that it had never received her client's requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
Judge James Faughnan told Ms Dempsey that had nothing to do with the case before the court and said he too wanted to see statements and wanted to be addressed on jurisdiction to establish if the case would be heard in the district court.
He adjourned the jurisdiction matter to 4 December and put the case back until 12 February next year for a plea or to arrange a date for hearing.
Mr Holian, who was present at the court, is regarded as one of the country's successful greyhound trainers.
