In Search of Shergar

by Colin Turner

Why were the Irish police not informed of the theft for nearly twelve hours. Why was no proper reward money put up either by the horse's owners (who include the Aga Khan) or the insurance syndicate? Colin Turner, racing correspondent of independent Radio News provides some startling answers and conclusions. Since the first anonymous phone call following Colin Turner's plea for information at the end of one of his broadcasts, his life has become nothing less than a real Dick Francis adventure. For months Colin Turner's had been in touch with a man who provided convincing evidence that he represented the kidnappers and who also claimed that Shergar was alive and well. This man's information led Colin Turner into a Bizarre and occasionally alarming series of adventures. It sent him to wait in some run-down hotels and to wander the Irish blogs in pouring rain in the middle of the night. It led them to the owners of Shergar through an initial wall of silence, to the Lloyd's insurance syndicate, to the French trainer and manager and manager of the Ballymany Stud, to the Irish manager in London, to the Garda Siochana, and to the Irish Government itself. Gradually with the help of taped conversations and telephone calls , and tip-offs from people who cared about the house, he has pieced together the puzzle. This the sensational inside story of one of the most amazing crimes of this century , told by the one man to have had contact with everyone connected with it, - including the kidnappers themselves. It is now believed that Shergar was kidnapped and then killed by the IRA, the Irish Republican Army, a terrorist group. But why would even the most hardened terrorists want to kill a poor animal.

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Associate Professor (Reader) in Islamic Thought in the School of Government & International Affairs.

Dr Turner was born in Birmingham but has lived in Durham since 1979. He joined Durham University in 1995.

Research Interests:
Political philosophy of the Muslim-majority world
The history of Muslim political thought
Contemporary Islamist movements
Political Theology
Anthropology of religion
Islamic theology and philosophy
Shi'ite History
The works of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi

Reviews

[Satyabrata Mishra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The case that never was solved. For why would someone carry out such a high risk kidnapping and not demand anything in return? The crime that shook British race courses.