Parramatta Eels' star Kieran Foran to sue TAB over leaked betting information
Brad Walter
Published: May 24, 2016 - 9:15PM
Kieran Foran's lawyers are set to take the first step towards a damages claim against the TAB over leaked details of alleged gambling transactions from his account by sending a concern notice to the betting agency on Wednesday.
The Parramatta and New Zealand star has engaged Daniel McGirr of McGirr Lawyers to pursue action after News Ltd reported that online bets totalling $75,000 had been placed from his TAB account on greyhounds and gallops in South Africa during a two-hour period last week.
The amount of detail in the News Ltd story, which included the size of individual bets and where and on what runner they were placed, prompted the TAB to launch an investigation into how such personal information had become public. McGirr Lawyers are set to commence litigation for damage to Foran's reputation and aggravated damages.
It is anticipated that a concern notice relating to breaches of the privacy act and the Australian privacy principles will be sent to the TAB on Wednesday by the Sydney legal firm.
At this stage it is unlikely that Foran will seek damages from News Ltd unless it is found that the information did not come from within the TAB.
TAB corporate affairs general manager Nicholas Tzaferis said he was unable to comment on the investigation.
"TAB takes the protection of customer information extremely seriously," he said. "In keeping with TAB policy, it is inappropriate to comment on anything relating to individual customers."
It is unclear whether the bets were placed by Foran, who returned from a Queensland rehabilitation facility last Thursday ahead of Monday night's match against Melbourne at Pirtek Stadium. However, there are concerns that the revelations have damaged his reputation and also had the potential to impact on his mental health after he had stood down from playing for three weeks to deal with personal issues.
Foran had been granted indefinite leave by the Eels after being rushed to hospital following a prescription drugs overdose and it had been reported that he was struggling to cope with the separation from his long-time partner.
Foran did not speak to the media after his comeback match on Monday night on the advice of his doctor. The 25-year-old returned to Queensland on Tuesday to continue his treatment for mental health issues.
Despite his latest dramas, Eels officials reported that Foran was in good spirits and his immediate concern is overcoming a shoulder injury to play in this weekend's match against Newcastle at Hunter Stadium.
Foran suffered the injury in the 18-6 loss to the Storm but has been cleared of major injury and hopes to be fit for the must win clash in Newcastle if the Eels are to keep alive their hopes of making the finals following the loss of 12 competition points for salary cap breaches.
Scans on Monday cleared Foran of structural damage and he was included in the side named by Eels coach Brad Arthur on Tuesday night but the 25-year-old will be treated during the week for inflammation.
Former NSW second-rower Beau Scott, who was dropped from the Blues side for next week's State of Origin opener, left the field during the match against the Storm with a corked thigh, but is hopeful of playing this weekend and was also named in the Parramatta side.
Arthur has made just one change for the trip to Newcastle, with centre Vai Toutai replacing Michael Jennings.
