Race-fixing trial inquiries call

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7134014.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The legal team of acquitted jockey Kieren Fallon has called for an inquiry into why a £10m race-fixing trial was brought to court.

They also want an inquiry into police testimony during his Old Bailey trial.

Mr Fallon, 42, two other riders and three other people were cleared after a key witness was undermined.

The CPS defended its decision to prosecute a "serious fraud allegation" while City of London Police said the force presented "compelling evidence".

The jockeys all denied they had tried to make horses lose in 27 races between December 2002 and August 2004.

Suspension lifted

Speaking after his acquittal, Mr Fallon - a six-times British champion jockey - said he was "relieved and delighted" to have been found not guilty.

NOT GUILTY Kieren Fallon, 42, from Tipperary, Irish RepublicFergal Lynch, 29, from Boroughbridge, N YorkshireDarren Williams, 29, from Leyburn, N YorkshireShaun Lynch, 37, from Londonderry, N IrelandMiles Rodgers, 38, from Silkstone, S Yorkshire Philip Sherkle, 42, from Tamworth, Staffs <a class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7020010.stm">The 27 races in question</a><a class="" href="/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/7132849.stm">Fallon cleared to ride in UK</a>

His 17-month suspension from riding has now been lifted.

His lawyers claim the trial, which followed a three-and-a half year police investigation, has cost the taxpayer up to £10m.

Now they have called for an inquiry into both the decision to prosecute and police testimony during the trial.

The prosecution's main witness was Australian racing steward Ray Murrihy, who found fault with the jockeys in 13 of the 27 races, but also admitted he knew little about the rules and culture of British racing.

The judge, Mr Justice Forbes, said "very little value" could therefore be attached to Mr Murrihy's evidence.

Mr Fallon, 42, from Tipperary, Irish Republic; fellow jockeys Fergal Lynch, 29, from Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and Darren Williams, 29, from Leyburn, North Yorkshire; Mr Lynch's brother Shaun Lynch, 38, of Londonderry, Northern Ireland; and barman Philip Sherkle, 42, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, were all cleared of plotting to throw races.

Miles Rodgers said he wanted to get back to a "normal life"

Miles Rodgers, 38, from Silkstone, South Yorkshire, was acquitted of concealing the proceeds of crime.

The prosecution claimed Mr Rodgers had laid bets totalling £2.2m on a series of horses in the expectation that the jockeys would connive in losing the races.

But the jury heard that Mr Fallon had won in five of the 17 races he was alleged to have been trying to lose.

'Unfortunate' mistake

An interview with British racing expert Jim McGrath in March 2006 also presented the prosecution with a problem.

This was a serious allegation of fraud in connection with horse-racing, with the potential to undermine the integrity of a historic sport enjoyed by millions CPS

Mr McGrath said he had seen very little he found suspicious with the jockeys' performances, but police did not disclose his favourable remarks to the defence until the trial had begun.

The detective in charge of the case, Acting Detective Inspector Mark Manning, said that was an "unfortunate" mistake.

CPS reviewing lawyer Asker Hussain said: "This was a serious allegation of fraud in connection with horse-racing, with the potential to undermine the integrity of a historic sport enjoyed by millions," he said.

City of London Police Commander Patrick Rice said the force was disappointed by the judge's decision, but appreciated the reasons for it.

"We believe we presented some compelling evidence and it is a pity that the jury did not have the opportunity to consider all the evidence we had gathered."