Lyons concern for Gordon Elliott's mental health as photo controversy continues
Louise Walsh & Conall Collier
Gordon Elliott's career as a top trainer hangs in the balance this week after a shocking photo of him astride a dead horse shocked the racing world and beyond.
The Longwood-based trainer's fate will be decided this Friday when the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board meets to decide if Elliott is handed down a very lengthy ban.
Elliott has issued a contrite and fulsome apology, saying the incident was “indefensible” and a “moment of madness”.
The image which was circulated widely on social media last weekend shows Elliott on his mobile phone, sitting on the dead horse while apparently making a peace sign gesture.
Fellow Meath trainer Ger Lyons says he is worried about Gordon Elliott's mental health as the fallout continues over an image and is asking people to "draw a line under the incident."
"I was very upset and very sad over it all but this morning (Tuesday), I woke up very worried about Gordon. I rang him but his phone was turned off so I left a message," he said
"We've all lost horses and know how upsetting that is. Nothing condones what he did.
"But are we all just going to stone him to death?
"I was sickened by the photo. It was terrible. We never get used to losing a horse.
"Gordon let himself down. He let the industry down.
"We were never the most popular sport before this but now people have lost even more faith in it. We (in the industry) always seem to have to be rebuilding the sport.
"We have been all demoralised by this. It always seems to be one step forward and ten back and we are always playing into the headwind. I'm just tired of it.
"However, people have to remember the human side and mental health side of this incident too.
"I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to be criticised and punished, but how far can people be allowed to go before a line is crossed.
"He will lose out hugely both in reputation and financially because of this.
"I'm not minimising what he has done in any way. I condemn this 100% but the man has made a mistake and we should draw a line under it now.
" I'd like to think that there wouldn't be any more footage out there like this to come to light - I don't know how or why people would do that in the first place.
"As an industry, these are very dark times and we need leadership now and by that I mean quick and swift action on this by the authorities."
Meanwhile, eCOMM Merchant Solutions - owned by Navan entrepresneurs Noel and Valerie Moran - have terminated their yard sponsorship contract with Gordon Elliott due to recent events
On Monday, they told the Meath Chronicle they would await the outcome of the IHRB investigation before commenting on the situation in relation to the horses they have in training with Elliott, and that stance remains the same and their horses remain at Cullentra.
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