Dunne team: BHA probe utterly inept and flawed

THE legal team defending Robbie Dunne against bullying claims have accused the BHA of conducting an investigation ‘irredeemably compromised by conflicts of interest and partisanships’.

Solicitor Daryl Cowan said the BHA had ‘completely lost control of the case’. He added that the data breach which led to extracts from the BHA probe into Frost’s allegations appearing in the Sunday Times would damage Dunne’s reputation as well as potentially prejudice the case.

Cowan highlighted an issue involving Chris watts, the BHA investigator who compiled the leaked report. He has since left the BHA without explanation.

‘The data breach has come on the back of an investigation that has been irredeemably compromised by conflicts of interest and partisanships,’ said Cowan.

‘Pretty much every rule of professional and neutral evidencegathering has been broken, including the misrepresentation and selective editing of witness testimony.

‘To cap it all, we are told that Chris watts, the investigator, will not now be available to be crossexamined on his investigation and it seems may have left the BHA in mysterious circumstances.

‘The BHA has acted with complete indifference to the impact of its process failures on my client and his family. It has acted in a manner which is high-handed and oppressive.

‘Its so-called Integrity Department has shown itself to be unfit for purpose. I will not comment on the specific issues within the case, but will say that much the biggest scandal for racing here has been the utterly inept and flawed investigation carried out.’

The Professional Jockeys Association also expressed concern over the leaked report.

Their statement added: ‘It would not be appropriate for the PJA to comment on the specifics of this case while the matter is still subject to the disciplinary process. That process must be allowed to run to its conclusion.’