Case dismissed: Tracey Collins cleared in High Court over injured jogger

Tracey Collins has been cleared of any responsibility surrounding an incident that saw a jogger collide with a horse she trained on the Curragh gallops in September 2014.

Newbridge businessman Gary Turner lost his High Court damages claim on Friday, having suffered a dislocated shoulder and other injuries during the incident, which happened while he was wearing headphones.

He sued Collins and her sister Sheena, as well as the Curragh Racecourse, but Justice David Keane said the court could find no responsibility or liability on behalf of the Collins sisters or the Curragh.

Turner had suggested that the Curragh should have signs on display to warn of the potential risks around the area.

However, due to the fact he said he did not look to his left or right once jogging onto the Curragh plains, Justice Keane said he would not have seen a sign, had there been one erected, anyway.

The jogger could now face significant legal costs over the claim, set to be determined next week, but has the right to appeal the decision.

Pat Keogh: 'Their professionalism showed how well business is conducted on the Curragh'Credit: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Curragh Racecourse chief executive Pat Keogh said of the potentially highly important judgement for Irish racing: "The judge gave extremely detailed findings and spoke of the significance of the Curragh to horse racing in Ireland.

"It's hugely important given the number of horses that are trained on the Curragh."

He added: "I was very pleased to hear the professionalism of Tracey Collins and all the staff on the Curragh shine through, from their day-to-day procedures to the manner in which they dealt with the situation.

"Their professionalism showed how well business is conducted on the Curragh and I think Tracey should be particularly pleased with the verdict."

The High Court judgement found that Turner failed to keep a proper lookout prior to the incident at the Maddenstown gallops, while also impeding, if not eliminating, his ability to hear the galloping horses by wearing headphones.

Turner said that he has been in constant pain since the matter and has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, initially believing he was going to die upon colliding with the horses.

Keogh added: "It's been a very difficult time for the Collins family that has been going on since the incident took place five years ago.

"They've had to live with that since then but I think they always knew that they had done everything right, and that's as the judge has found.

"It was a very good day from that point of view and it's great that it is behind us now, bearing in mind, though, that Mr Turner would have the right to appeal the judge's decision."

Noel Meade, chairman of the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, added: "It was great to see the outcome for Tracey and everyone.

"It's obviously a terrible worry for everyone at the Curragh but it's also a worry for all of us in general the way things have gone at the moment."

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