Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) were warned not to get drawn into public debate over a ban on dog racing in New Zealand with advice that “once you are explaining, you are losing.”
In discussions with PR advisers, GRI had asked how they should respond to requests from RTÉ and others to talk about a decision made in New Zealand to ban greyhound racing from 2026 onwards.
New Zealand decided late last year to wind the sport down over a twenty-month period due to the “unacceptably high” rate of injury to dogs.
The management of Greyhound Racing Ireland sought advice on how they should handle the fallout and whether they should speak publicly on it.
An email from their PR company said: “We simply do not know enough about the myriads of issues that may have led to the ending of greyhound racing in New Zealand to comment on the matter.
“To engage in a conversation on the issue would result in GRI having to answer for New Zealand greyhound racing without being armed with the necessary information. Once you are explaining, you are losing in such situations.”
Instead, it was recommended that a more general prepared statement highlighting the importance of the industry, growing attendance figures, and commitment to animal welfare should be relied upon.
There were further requests for Greyhound Racing Ireland to speak on the New Zealand ban.
An email from the greyhound board’s chief executive Tim Lucey said: “I think we respond on the basis that we have no comment to make on the reported matter.”
Further text messages from Mr Lucey to a representative of the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation asked if perhaps a breeder could speak publicly to put forward their side.
A message to Mr Lucey said: “Appears to be open season at the moment. [UK breeder representative] on this morning Radio 5 Live U.K. discussing the New Zealand decision. IMO, I thought he came across very well.”
Mr Lucey responded saying: “That was a pretty light interview. Not sure we’d get the same here.”
Asked about the internal discussions and the reference to a ‘light interview’, Tim Lucey said: “The comment does not relate to or express any belief regarding fairness or otherwise of media coverage.
“It simply expresses a view that the interview referred to appeared to be light without any nature of debate therein.”