Clare trainer Brian McMahon has been suspended from attending all Irish race meetings for three months and fined €1,000 for breaching Covid-19 restrictions.
McMahon attended Goffs sales at Yorton Farm in Wales on 17 December but then took horses to a meeting at Thurles on 20 December when he should have been restricting his movements.
The trainer falsely declared he had not been abroad in the previous 14 days when completing the compulsory health screening questionnaire.
"In his evidence, Mr McMahon explained he had attended the sales at Yorton Farm on behalf of a neighbour with the agreement that his neighbour would instead attend the races at Thurles on Mr McMahon’s behalf," an IHRB statement read.
"However, the day prior to the races at Thurles, Mr McMahon was informed by his neighbour that due to unforeseen circumstances he would be unable to attend the races, at which point Mr McMahon contacted three other individuals who held a stable pass for him.
"However, he was unable to obtain race day help for Thurles and he decided to bring the horse to the races himself.
"He accepted that this was reckless and completely the wrong thing to do and that following all the communication received from the IHRB since the resumption of racing that he should have been more aware of the gravity of the situation."
