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Armed detectives accompanied a world beating horse to the Punchestown races to protect it from criminals.

The High Court was told by the head of the Criminal Assetts Bureau Chief Superintendent Pat Clavin that Labaik had been seized by his officers.

CAB has alleged that the race horse, who won the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2017, was bought with the proceeds of crime by convicted drug dealer John Boylan.

The Dublin native was in court yesterday for the hearing in which CAB are seeking an order to seize the horse.

Boylan, 32, from Clondalkin, is making a counter claim for compensation because the horse, part owned by renowned trainer Gordon Elliot, was injured during a race.

Chief Supt Clavin told the court that CAB had agreed to allow Labaik race.

The court heard that Mr Elliot, who has no connection to criminality, believed that the value of the race horse would fall if it was not raced.

The Chief Supt said: "The decision to race was Mr Elliott's - it was not my decision.

"I did not have any legal reasons to refuse to run the horse in the race.

"The horse was allowed to race under supervision of members of An Garda Siochana who are CAB officers.

"It was my decision to release the horse passport to keep up the value of the assett.

"I was afraid that Mr Elliott would come under pressure to race the horse so armed members of An Garda Siochana accompanied the passport."

While racing the horse sustained a serious injury and has not raced since.

Mr Clavin added: "The race horse had injured itself. It is my understanding that the horse is alive and has not been put down."

The High Court are seeking to seize the racehorse, which was purchased for €28,000 in April, 2016.

There was also an associated bank account containing winnings of €77,900, a mobile home worth €33,000, a house in Rathcoole, Dublin, and a 2015 E-Class Mercedes which was bought for €28,000.

Boylan, who also uses the name John Power, has 67 previous ­convictions, including two drugs offences.

He was described as being heavily involved in the sale of ­controlled drugs in the Ronanstown area near the Dublin suburbs of Lucan and Clondalkin.

Boylan, wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans, gave evidence at the hearing and told Ms Justice Carmel Stewart that he had 90% ownership of the horse.

But the court also heard that he bought it through an associate Anthony O'Sullivan who was well connected in horse racing circles.

He told the Judge that he had owned between 15 or 20 horses in his life time but that Labaik was the first thorough bred.

He denied that he paid the €28,406 cost of the purchase from the proceeds of crime.

He said that the only issue with buying the horse was getting permission from his girlfriend.

He said that he put €1,000 per week into a joint account with his partner and that this money was used to buy the horse.

He said that Labaik won it's first race and then went onto win at Cheltenham.

With these victories it had increased its value.

Boylan told the court that race horse owners such as Michael O'Leary had sought to buy the horse.

The decision was made to sell the horse but then CAB came calling and made seizures under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act. The case continues at the High Court in Dublin.