By Jon Lees

Copyright mirror

An Irish jump jockey ‘sexually harassed’ a 16-year-old female stable worker by sending her a host of inappropriate messages, a disciplinary tribunal has heard. Edward Keating, 34, worked in a stable in Victoria, Australia from March 2023 to December 2024, riding one winner from 54 mounts, and is now working in Britain. He pleaded guilty to the sexual harassment of a stable employee, who was 16 at the time, through a series of Instagram direct messages when the case was dealt with by a Victoria Racing Tribunal. Over a four to five day period the messages included: “When was the last time you had sex??”; “Haha when you have a body like you do people won’t be looking at your hair”; “Awh cute, you still didn’t answer, I’m starting to think you’re a virgin which is okay, I don’t mind”. He also said: “Well if you want to have sex just between the two of us don’t tell anyone else I’ll look after you and make sure you enjoy it too but if you say no I respect that too”. In a report of the hearing by Racenet.com the tribunal noted “there was no actual or attempted physical contact” between Keating and the teenager. The 16-year-old told her mother who reported Keating to an assistant trainer and then the police. No action was taken by police but Keating’s visa sponsorship was cancelled and he lost his job. The tribunal heard that Keating was “greatly remorseful” and was experiencing mental health issues at the time, for which he had not obtained any professional help.. He told stewards he thought the teenager was 17 but accepted his messages “extremely inappropriate”. In the tribunal decision published on Friday, VRT deputy chair Judge Marilyn Harbison and Ms Judy Bourke said: “It is clear that the messages constituted sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a very serious issue in the racing industry. “Young people who work in this industry have a right to be protected against the predations of older persons having authority over them. “Mr Keating was a mature man who took advantage of his position to harass a vulnerable child. This is outrageous conduct, whether he thought she was 16 or 17, we have a responsibility to denounce it. “The Instagram messaging is clearly grooming behaviour and has no place in the racing industry. The reputation of the racing industry is clearly diminished by such conduct. The conduct has had a disastrous effect on the victim and her family.” Under the disqualification Keating will no longer be able to be licensed as a jockey or be present on licensed premises, such as a racing stable or racecourse., with the punishment expected to be reciprocated by the British Horseracing Authority. He apologised for his conduct and described it as a “terrible mistake”.