Thurles bans may yet become lost in the maze
The infamous 'Battle of Omagh' made a mockery of the GAA disciplinary procedures, with players getting the bans overturned.
PADDY BRADLEY freed to play for Derry footballers against Antrim; eight hurlers from Clare and Cork facing a month's ban for the pre-match fracas in Thurles last Sunday; Roscommon's David Loughnane suspended for two months; and Meath's Brian Farrell and Mayo's Pat Harte banned for a month.
It was a busy day on the GAA's disciplinary roundabout yesterday, but it's impossible to predict precisely where it's leading because history proves that very little can be taken at face value.
It all depends which exit is taken and even then there are side roads, diversions and even cul de sacs which can lead to all sorts of strange destinations.
The GAA's new disciplinary framework came into force on January 1 last and were designed to cut down on the litany of loopholes that made a mockery of procedures.
Yet, inside a few months, Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Owen Mulligan (Tyrone), Brendan Quigley (Laois), Ken Casey (Offaly), David Barden (Longford) and Kevin Cassidy (Donegal) had all got off on various technical points of GAA law.
It all left the GAA public baffled as to how a new system should spring leaks so quickly, but the authorities insist that it was due to an initial snag list which, when cleared up, will reduce problems to a tiny trickle. We shall see.
Alleged
Paddy Bradley was serving a 12-week ban for an alleged 'minor interference' with a referee while playing for Glenullin against Loup in a Derry club game, but took his case to the DRA (Disputes Resolution Authority) who announced yesterday that they had found the suspension was imposed 'in breach of fair procedures'.
The DRA referred the case back to the Derry Hearings Committee who have a choice of starting the procedure all over again or dropping it. Either way, Bradley is free to play against Antrim in the Ulster championship next Sunday as the DRA put a stay on the operation of the suspension, pending a re-hearing.
The introduction of the DRA has proved to be extremely beneficial to the GAA's disciplinary process as it's seen as a scrupulously independent body which deals in fact and procedure only. It has certainly cut down on the number of cases heading for the Courts, a trend which had become an embarrassing norm in previous years.
The DRA should start preparing for another high-profile case, following the news that the 'Thurles Eight' are facing suspensions arising from the bust-up prior to the Clare-Cork game last Sunday.
It's unprecedented in the GAA for so many players to have sanctions imposed for incidents which arose before a game and it will almost inevitably lead to a long, drawn-out appeals process.
It's clear that the GAA are determined to sort out its disciplinary process which began a freefall towards a total lack of respect following the chaotic manner in which the infamous 'Battle of Omagh' affair was processed early last year.
That - plus some other deeply confusing decisions - led to a fundamental overhaul of the system, the new version of which is now in place for almost five months.
As of now, the jury is still very much out on whether we can have any more faith in the latest disciplinary process.
- Martin Breheny
