By: Patrick Bartley
Former Aquanita employee Greg Nelligan and his wife Denise have had their stand-down notices expanded to include being banned from Victorian racecourses, training premises and receiving any direct or indirect benefit from thoroughbred racing and/or breeding in Victoria.
Greg Nelligan, who is facing more than 100 charges related to the Aquanita inquiry, and Denise Nelligan, who is facing 13 charges, did not appear at and made no submissions to Racing Victoria stewards at their show-cause hearing on Monday.
“Mr and Mrs Nelligan elected not to make any submissions today to RV stewards in response to a show cause notice issued on 1 March, 2018 which invited them to explain why the conditions of their current standing down ought not be expanded to include those within AR182,” Racing Victoria said in a statement.
“Mr and Mrs Nelligan were stood down by the stewards from their duties as stablehands pending the hearing and determination of the charges laid against them by RC stewards on January 9, 2018.
“The charges against each of them include alleged breaches of the Australian rules of racing as part of the Aquanita case.
“This includes, but is not limited to, a ban on entering Victorian racecourses and training premises and receiving any direct or indirect benefit from thoroughbred racing and/or breeding in Victoria.”
Through their legal team, the Nelligans told the directions hearing into the Aquanita case last week that they would not be attending the hearing on April 30.
Judge John Bowman said that the Nelligans’ plea for the hearing would be “not guilty” as there is no legal provision for a “no contest” declaration.
The Nelligans, formerly of Perth, do not intend to take part in the marathon hearing in the first week of May and Racing Victoria officials have no power to compel them to attend.
If they do not attend, however, Judge Bowman will be asked to deal with the Nelligans at the end of the hearing, and it is expected that they will be officially warned off.
