by Tony Smurthwaite

Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien has spoken out against plans for a huge waste treatment plant adjacent to Ballydoyle stables, claiming it would "be the end" for the world-famous stables.

O'Brien was speaking at the opening of a hearing at Clonmel in County Tipperary held by Ireland's planning authority, Bord Pleanala, into plans for an animal waste bio-energy plant which would process 215,000 tons of waste possibly containing material infected with mad cow disease. The plant, at Castleblake, Rosegreen in County Tipperary, is being proposed by Green Organic Energy (GOE), whose initial plans were rejected last August on environmental grounds by South Tipperary County Council.

"There's no doubt it would be the end of Ballydoyle," said O'Brien. "This would be a disaster for us. The two things cannot work together. We train elite equine athletes at Ballydoyle, so obviously air quality and surroundings are vital."

O'Brien was joined at the hearing by his wife, Anne-Marie, who said she was appalled at the prospect of a go-ahead for the plant. Coolmore Stud owner John Magnier and local residents are also reported to be against the plans.

Paul Barrett, project manager for GOE, said the plant could yield 15-megawatts of electricity to the national grid. He told the hearing that the plant would not create "animal odors" and added that recognized emissions standards would be met.

Environmental health consultant Dr. Martin Hogan told the inquiry that the potential for health impacts on humans would be negligible.

Tony Smurthwaite, an England-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent, is a writer for Racing Post