Crisis looms as GAA committees battle disciplinary issues

Barry Kelly, chairman of Westmeath’s Coiste na nÓg, has criticised those who are trying to undermine the disciplinary process in the county, outlining how the underage committee has had to deal with a plethora of appeals this year, which is hugely time consuming for volunteers.

Addressing the issue at last Wednesday’s County Committee meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel, he outlined how new Coiste na nÓg secretary Peter Collins spent 50 hours dealing with one particular hearing, forcing him, a self employed person, to take time off work at his own expense.

Mr Kelly, who refereed four All-Ireland hurling finals in a successful career at intercounty level, remains prominently involved as a club referee in Westmeath and the St Finian’s College teacher has taken up the role of Coiste na nÓg chairman this year. Having witnessed how clubs are constantly challenging sanctions, refusing to accept that the games are governed by rules, he is calling on people in hurling and football clubs across the county to take a step back.

“People are entitled to due process, we all know that, but there is almost, now, a lack of acceptance of sanctions. The minute we decide on a disciplinary issue, it’s straight away, ‘we’re looking for a hearing’. The perception is that minor or senior boards have a vindictive streak and are out to get lads – not a bit – but it is hugely time consuming,” he said.

The hearings committee are being overwhelmed in their role, he said, while the new Coiste na nÓg secretary Peter Collins is being overburdened.

“When someone requests a hearing, there is a mountain of paperwork and things to be redacted and emails and correspondence – you wouldn’t believe it. Peter Collins is self-employed and has taken days off work.

“In one instance, which would be regarded as fairly frivolous or trivial, he spent 50 hours dealing with a hearing. This was not someone who was facing a 96-week suspension, or anything.

“We have had hearings with no video evidence; players are sent off, contesting it. This idea of bringing in opponents from the opposite team to say that ‘Johnny is not a dirty player’. We have heard all these arguments and they’re a complete waste of time.

“Hearings should be something where you genuinely feel aggrieved and have proof that the referee has made a wrong decision, or the committee in charge has acted (incorrectly). And you have definite proof. We do get things wrong, of course we do, but we need to get some kind of balance between clubs and the county board; we’re meant to be administering discipline.

“But at the moment, we are being the judges, and we’re also in the dock as well. It’s contradictory, really: one side of you imposes discipline and the other challenges it at the earliest opportunity.”

Dealing with disciplinary issues has taken over in terms of the role the new Westmeath underage secretary is now fulfilling, Mr Kelly explained, calling on club officers to help change a culture.

“The balance has to be reclaimed. The hearings committee are in Cusack Park for hearings (constantly): name the hour and they’re there. That’s not right; we are all volunteers.

“Fixtures are the least of Peter Collins’s problems and that’s saying something, considering he has fixed hundreds of underage games.

“We are up to schedule, but I know it’s wearing on him; we need to get the balance right, otherwise we won’t have the Peter Collins’s next year, and we won’t have other people in administrative roles. That’s not a veiled threat or anything. They don’t grow on trees and we should appreciate them if we have them.”

He asked club officers to take a more balanced view and to ditch the notion that the people serving on committees have a hidden agenda.

“Judge it fairly: is this a massive decision? Do we need to go down this road of threatening DRA, this and that. I feel very strongly about it, so does Peter. It has been a real eye-opener for me, chairman for the last six months, the lack of acceptance of disciplinary procedure, as we perceive it.

“We are trying to implement the rules as fairly as we can and we have done it very fairly for every club. Perception of that might be skewed in some quarters, but we need to examine ourselves in this whole area.”

Chairman Frank Mescall said clubs are failing to cultivate respect for rules and outlined how some ugly incidents have dominated competitions in recent times.

“We have a number of offenders in a small number of clubs; at underage and adult level. We have had really shocking incidents that have no part on the street and certainly no place in our games. We need to clean up,” he declared.

“Over the last while, discipline has been an issue for us, underage and senior. There’s a worrying trend beginning to emerge in clubs and individuals from clubs coming forward more and more.”

He challenged clubs to take it on board, reminding them it is their responsibility. The chairman also stressed that the GAA’s Official Guide must always be adhered to.

“We have a tried a trusted system and everyone has a right to due process. That is enshrined in the rule book, but equally we adhere to the rule book, everybody. That is our bible in the GAA and we don’t write our own (rules).”

Information evening on discipline

Meanwhile, clubs are to meet for an information evening regarding discipline and the process involved. Matt Shaw, a legal professional and an expert on the rules, is to facilitate the meeting, to be held in November. Mr Shaw has served at the highest level and also serves as a referee.

Cullion’s Dermot Broughan welcomed the idea, stressing how important it is to understand procedure. It was agreed that it would be a webinar type event to take place in November; it would be recorded and then used as a refresher in the early part of next year.