Top horse trainer Ronan McNally hit with ‘record 12-YEAR ban’ and ordered to pay over £55,000 in shocking racing scandal

TOP Irish horse trainer Ronan McNally has been hit with what is believed to be a record 12-YEAR ban for his role in a shocking racing scandal.

And he has been ordered to pay over £55,000 in costs and returned prize money for breaking multiple rules.

David Dunne, the brother of jockey Robbie, who was found guilty of bullying Bryony Frost, has also been banned for two years and fined more than £4,000 after he was found guilty of conspiring with McNally to bring racing into disrepute.

McNally’s ban relates in part to the running of horse Dreal Deal.

The horse, who has won more than £50,000 in prize money, has been disqualified from two wins for McNally in 2020.

The Jam Man has also been disqualified from his runner-up position in a race under rule 275, which deals with horses allegedly subject to ‘fraudulent practice’.

Overall, McNally has been found guilty of multiple ‘integrity breaches’.

An Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board statement said: “The committee regards the findings against Mr McNally as very serious.

“His offences strike at the integrity and the objective of having a level playing field for all who send horses out to race.

“They also involved a deception of the public, especially the betting public.”

McNally was also found to have concealed his ownership of horses All Class, Full Noise and Petrol Head, which ran in Dunne4’s name.

A total of 36 races involving the trio of horses were examined.

All Class won three times in 2021 and Full Noise once, meaning Dunne must forfeit just under £24,000 in prize money.

Incredibly, McNally’s ban is believed to be three times the previous longest dished out by chiefs.

Stephen Mahon was banned for four years for bringing racing into disrepute as a result of breaking welfare rules.

More to follow.