'It's more high profile because it's me' -Oisin Murphy blasts media in interview
Irish jockey Murphy was recently handed a £70,000 fine and a 20-month driving ban after admitting to one count of driving a motor vehicle over the legal alcohol limit.
Murphy was back on the saddle the very next day and continues to race and took time to speak to Matt Chapman on At The Races.
In the brief interview, Murphy took aim at the media.
"Obviously there was going to be a lot said in the media and it is important to not allow the media to bully you too much because you can get very down but I've had horses to ride and have a job to do and I am working with the BHA and it's great to be riding every day," he told Chapman.
And when asked about the female passenger in the car during the incident, he said: "Obviously there was a lot of misinformation in the press, much of it spread by your colleagues but fortunately the lady is really well and that's the most important thing."
Interviewer Chapman then followed up, asking if she was back working.
"I don't think that is anyone's business but if I say she's very well I mean that."
Murphy further took aim at the media, slamming them as 'jealous'.
"Not everyone wants one to achieve. There is a lot of jealousy out there, particularly in the media. I worked all my life to ride good horses, and I'll continue to do that, and the only thing that can inhibit me from not progressing further in my career is myself, so that's a realisation."
The 29-year-old briefly touched on the role of counselling in his life in recent years.
"I had been for the last four years. Obviously, I had very good spells due to that support, and I relied on it an awful lot since late April, and I've got to thank those people because they have gone above and beyond when the process hasn't been so easy.
"It's very important not to make that error again. It was a nightmare, particularly for everyone involved, not just myself. The people who had to pick up the pieces obviously, my support network. Time is a great healer but I won't be forgetting about that mistake."
The British Horseracing Authority maintains privacy with jockeys when it comes to licencing and Murphy was also asked about any possible restrictions that he has been handed since the drink-driving offence.
"They never disclose licence information. I'm not the first jockey to drink and drive or commit offences so it's obviously more high profile because it's me, and due to the profile I have, those incidents should never occur but the BHA have been really fantastic and I really appreciate what they've done to help me. I want to repay them."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
32 minutes ago
- Extra.ie
Irish dad treated 'less than human' by ICE after overstaying US visit by 'three days'
An Irish father-of-three has detailed the horrific time he spent in ICE detention facilities after being arrested by United States immigration officials and put behind bars for around 100 days. The man, named Thomas, was initially arrested by police after a row erupted between him and his girlfriend, but once Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents saw his visa status, he was reportedly sent 100 miles away to an ICE processing centre. Thomas told The Guardian that he had overstayed his 90-day tourist visa by just three days when he was detained. The Trump administration has ramped up immigration detentions this year. Pic: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) The tech worker left Ireland to visit his girlfriend in West Virginia last autumn and was originally supposed to return to Ireland in October. However, while in the States, Thomas badly tore his calf which caused severe swelling and an inability to walk. Due to this, his doctor reportedly told him not to travel for eight to twelve weeks due to the risk of blood clots. According to the report, this took his stay under the US visa waiver programme just over the December 8 authorisation cut-off. 'Alligator Alcatraz' has been a topic of major controversy in the US. Pic: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Thomas is said to have attempted to contact both the Irish and US embassies with paperwork from his doctor to prove his reason for overstaying but did not hear back from either due to it being short notice. He was detained by the police after they were called during a hotel stay while he was visiting his girlfriend's family in Georgia. Thomas said he was preparing to return home when he had a mental health episode and the row occurred. After being brought to the processing centre, Thomas signed a form and agreed to be removed from the US and return to Ireland, his attorney reportedly said. However, instead of being deported, Thomas remained in the custody of ICE. Pic:He has since described rough conditions in their Folkston, GA, facility, which included only getting one hour of outdoor time a week and enduring a five-day lockdown. This meant he was unable to contact his family. Thomas spent about two months in this facility before being moved in February to a holding cell with approximately 50 other detainees. He reportedly called his family to tell them the news, adding that he thought he was 'going home'. He claimed, however, that this turned out not to be the case, as he and dozens of other ICE detainees were transported about four hours away to a federal correctional institution in Atlanta run by the US Bureau of Prisons (BoP). The prison reportedly normally houses criminal defendants but was opened up to ICE detainees as part of the Trump administration's efforts to increase detentions. Thomas claimed that the conditions and treatment he received at the new prison were much worse than in the Folkston facility. He said: 'The staff didn't know why we were there and they were treating us exactly as they would treat BoP prisoners, and they told us that. 'We were treated less than human.' Thomas explained how he was frequently hungry, saying the food was 'disgusting slop' made up of 'mysterious meat that at times appeared to have chunks of bones and other inedible items mixed in'. He also added that the clothing was far from adequate, with the facility allegedly only giving him a used, ripped underwear and a jumpsuit and no shirt. Despite needing medical visits, Thomas said he and other detainees never saw a doctor. He also claimed that he heard people crying for help but not getting any from staff. He also said that for some time he did not receive the psychiatric medication he requested, and that when he did staff would just throw the pill under his door. Toilet paper seemed to be another problem, with detainees reportedly only receiving one roll per week. Thomas went on to detail how he was often cold with only a thin blanket for warmth. He told The Guardian that their recreation time was limited to an enclosure that 'resembles an indoor cage'. He added: 'You couldn't see the outside whatsoever. I didn't see the sky for weeks.' Thomas explained how ICE representatives would come to the prison once a week to speak with detainees, but the situation was always 'pandemonium' with people crowding around to try and talk and no translators for people who did not speak English or Spanish. Due to there being no international calls, Thomas was unable to speak to his children. He added: 'I don't know how I made it through.' For a brief period in mid-March, Thomas said he was moved to yet another ICE facility until he was finally put on a flight back to Ireland with two armed federal officers.
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe has appeal against public order conviction allowed
Anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe had his appeal against a public order conviction allowed on Tuesday on payment of €500 to the Irish Red Cross. He was convicted originally at Fermoy District Court following his failure to make a €350 contribution to the Irish Refugee Council. In March, when the matter came up at Cork Circuit Appeals Court, his then barrister Alan O'Dwyer said: 'It is purely a religious matter.' He explained Mr Blighe's difficulty was with the position taken by the Irish Refugee Council on the repeal of the 8th amendment to the Irish Constitution in relation to abortion. Judge Helen Boyle adjourned the appeal until Tuesday for the appellant to pay €500 to Nasc, the organisation that advises migrants and refugees on their rights. And Mr O'Dwyer said the appellant would make this contribution. However, when the appeal was mentioned on Tuesday, Mr Blighe, who represented himself in court, said paying this contribution to NASC was against his faith because they had taken the same position on the abortion amendment. Judge Boyle let the matter stand at 11.30am and said she would return to the case later. When the case was called again at about 4pm, Judge Boyle asked Mr Blighe if he had the €500 in court. He said he had. The judge then directed him to hand it over to An Garda Síochána, which he did. Judge Boyle said: 'I am going to direct the sergeant to pay it to the Red Cross and thereafter to allow the appeal.' Mr Blighe said: 'Thank you, your honour.' 44-year-old Derek Blighe, Croughevoe, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, had, according to the evidence of Inspector Jason Wallace at Fermoy District Court, engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour during an incident at Abbeyville House, Fermoy, on December 22, 2023. Witness Christopher Gomez said he was duty manager at Abbeyville when it was being prepared as accommodation for migrants, and a protest by people opposing its use for this purpose had been taking place for several months outside. Mr Gomez said Mr Blighe obstructed an oil delivery to the premises and told him: 'You are a guest in this country. Shame on you. You should be ashamed. You will go down in the history books, you will go down in the sewers of Irish history. Go back to where you came from.' Video of these comments was live-streamed. As an Irish citizen for 20 years, Mr Gomez said he had 'never experienced anything like this before'.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
John Gosden fined after yard worker who took ketamine three days a week contaminated horses including ‘the new Enable'
TRAINER John Gosden has been fined after a yard worker who took ketamine three days a week made one of his horses - who punters dubbed 'the new Enable' - fail a drugs test following her debut win. Iconic handler Gosden and his son Thady have been fined £3,000 by the BHA after two of their horses tested positive for the banned substance. Advertisement 2 Famed trainer John Gosden, far left, and son and co-trainer Thady Gosden, far right, have been fined £3,000 after two of their horses tested positive for ketamine Credit: The Mega Agency 2 Zilfee, in the pink and green Juddmonte silks, is a half-sister to the great Enable - and looked a potential star on winning debut at Kempton... only to now be stripped of victory having failed a drugs test Zilfee, a half-sister to the awesome Arc, King George, Oaks and Breeders' Cup Turf-winning Enable, was first past the post on debut at Kempton in June last year. But after testing positive for the powerful hallucinogenic, the Juddmonte-owned filly's debut victory has been sensationally scrubbed from the record books and her prize money of almost £4,000 must be returned. A BHA Disciplinary Panel also found another Gosden-trained horse, Morrophore, had tested positive for ketamine. The findings came about after a yard worker - Person A - said they used the drug three times a week 'recreationally'. Advertisement The worker had direct care for Morrophore, who failed a test after finishing sixth at Yarmouth last July. But another yard worker who looked after Zilfee claimed that horse tested positive for ketamine after they used Person A's kitbag on the day in question. An investigation by the BHA summarised in the fast-track hearing read: "Person A was employed by the Gosdens from October 2023 to August 2024. Background to the case The admitted breaches of the Rules of Racing in respect of Rule (K)2.2 are in respect of the presence of Ketamine (and its metabolites), a Prohibited Substance, in a post-race urine sample taken from the horse ZILFEE (GB) after being placed first in the Unibet/EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes (GBB Race) at Kempton Racecourse on 12 June 2024 and in a post-race urine sample taken from the horse MORROPHORE (FR) after racing at Yarmouth Racecourse on 10 July 2024. An out-of-competition sample was taken from ZILFEE (GB) on 10 July 2024. The hair sample demonstrated likely multiple low-level exposures to Ketamine over many months. An out-of-competition sample was taken from MORROPHORE (FR) on 6 August 2024. The hair and urine samples demonstrated prolonged exposure to Ketamine. Rule (K)2.2 states that Prior to leaving the Racecourse, no Category B Prohibited Substance is present in their horse's body on a day on which it is engaged to run in a Race. Pursuant to the Prohibited List Code, Ketamine is a Category B Prohibited Substance, prohibited on race day. "She admitted recreational ketamine use approximately three times per week whilst not at work. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing "Person A had direct care for and rode MORROPHORE (FR). "Person A took MORROPHORE (FR) to Great Yarmouth on 10 July 2024. "Person A did not have direct care of ZILFEE (GB) but the horse's groom had used Person A's kit bag at the racecourse on 12 June 2024. "Person A denied any direct administration of ketamine and believed that there was cross contamination as a result of the fact that she not always washing her hands before coming to work. Advertisement "She admitted that she had been taken through the induction procedure. "This included the Substance Misuse Policy which emphasised the need to avoid cross contamination." The BHA conducted an inspection of the famed Gosden Clarehaven yard in July and August 2024. Hair samples, swabs and bedding samples were taken from four further horses and all hair samples contained ketamine. Advertisement The father-son duo were interviewed in January this year having already brought random drug and alcohol testing of staff into force. In the Disciplinary Panel 'assessment of penalty' report, it was deemed 'neither John nor Thady had knowledge of the administration and the yard had a number of reasonable and targeted precautions'. In a statement, the Gosdens said: "We remain committed to the highest standards of care and integrity in our operations and are taking every possible step to avoid any recurrence." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
