Ulster GAA say they are considering the findings of the McGibbon Safeguarding Review Report, which was prompted after domestic abuse allegations were made against former Derry manager Rory Gallagher.
The report, to examine the provincial association’s overall adult safeguarding policies, has been completed. It was commissioned after the allegations against Mr Gallagher were made by his ex-wife, Nicola.
Ulster GAA released a statement on Wednesday afternoon but refused to confirm if Mr Gallagher remained debarred from the association – having been temporarily banned while work on the report was ongoing.
In September, Ulster GAA said: “Mr Rory Gallagher has been temporarily debarred, without prejudice, from the GAA until the Ulster GAA Safeguarding Panel conclude their work.”
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Work on the report has concluded but Ulster officials would not be drawn on Mr Gallagher’s debarment, releasing a holding statement instead to say they were now considering its findings.
Ulster GAA stated: “[We] commissioned an Adult Safeguarding Review in July 2023 to examine our response to adult safeguarding practice, particularly when concerns are raised with us in relation to domestic violence and abuse.
“We welcome the McGibbon Safeguarding Review Report that has now been issued to us. We wish to formally recognise the work of the Panel, and those who contributed to it, and we will continue to liaise with those parties as we go forward.
“We will take time to consider the findings of the report and we are committed to implementing the recommendations and taking forward the key learnings from it.
“We reaffirm our commitment to the principles of our White Ribbon Pledge and we recognise the value of undertaking this work to strengthen our safeguarding practices and ensuring that all allegations of domestic violence and abuse are responded to in an appropriate way.”
The Ulster GAA Adult Safeguarding panel members are Gareth McGibbon, Anne Marks and Stephen Sherry.
In response to the allegation made on social media in May, Mr Gallagher released a statement through his solicitor.
He said: “The allegations against me have been investigated and dealt with by the relevant authorities. My focus over the past four years has been to protect our children from the ongoing turmoil in our family.”
