SHARK Hanlon’s ban has been reduced from 10 to six months, following last week’s hearing by the Appeals Body at offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB).

Hanlon’s ban is due to commence on December 1st, though as per the original decision, the Referrals Committee may consider an application to suspend the latter half, if Hanlon is found to have abided by the conditions imposed for the first half.

On October 14th, the Appeals Body of Justice Peter Kelly (Chairman), Mr Anthony Byrne and Mr Nick Wachman met to consider the appeal of John Joseph Hanlon regarding the severity of the 10-month suspension and €2,000 fine imposed for bringing horseracing into disrepute.

The punishment related to an incident in June where Hanlon’s branded horsebox was seen pulling a trailer with a fully visible horse carcass on public roads, with the incident being filmed by a member of the public and shared widely on social media. Hanlon explained to the IHRB that a tarpaulin covering the horse had blown away during the journey.

During last week’s hearing, trainer Edward O’Grady gave evidence on Hanlon’s behalf, having contacted Hanlon’s legal team regarding what he deemed “draconian” punishment. O’Grady described Hanlon’s actions as that of “an agricultural man going about agricultural business.”

Furthermore, Hanlon’s solicitor Stephen Lanigan O’Keeffe criticised comparisons made by the IHRB between his client’s actions and the high-profile scandals of Gordon Elliott and Rob James.

This point was crucial in the IHRB reducing the ban imposed on Hanlon, according to their statement on Wednesday. It read: “In their cases, the lack of respect demonstrated to the carcass of the deceased animal in each case was deliberate and wilful. Mr Hanlon's was not. He was negligent, albeit to a high degree. We do not think that the reduction of the headline penalty from one of 12 months withdrawal of licence to 10 months adequately addresses that major difference.”

Hanlon’s appeal also criticised the Referrals Committee’s decision not to punish his actions with a financial penalty alone, which was rejected by the Appeals Body. They upheld the original fines of €2,000 regarding breach of bringing horseracing into disrepute, and fine of €350 regarding Rule 148(iii), whereby the horse’s passport was not up-to-date.

The statement was released a day after Hanlon had offered 24 horses at the Goffs UK October Horses In Training Sale, where 15 of those found a buyer. Hanlon had previously hoped that his partner Rachel O’Neill could take over the licence, but she was told there were no available places on the trainers’ course.