A pensioner has been refused permission to bring a High Court action arising from the controversial decision of awarding a goal to Meath in the dying moments of the 2010 Leinster GAA football final against Louth, resulting in a Meath victory.
Paddy Garvey (75) had sought leave to bring a judicial review against the president of the GAA over the awarding of the goal when Meath’s Joe Sheridan threw the ball over the line.
In his ruling yesterday, Mr Justice Michael Peart refused leave after finding Mr Garvey had not made an arguable case.
Mr Garvey had issued a summons under section 51 of the District Court rules aimed at compelling the GAA president to come before the court on a charge of alleged corruption.
He alleged Meath was awarded “the Leinster medals” when GAA rules were “clearly breached” by allowing the goal to stand.
His summons was struck out by the District Court in July 2011, and that ruling was upheld by the Circuit Court last March. Mr Garvey sought to have the Circuit Court refusal judicially reviewed on grounds of alleged failure to give reasons for that refusal. Yesterday Mr Justice Peart, who described the application as “unusual”, dismissed Mr Garvey’s case.
He said Mr Garvey had failed to make out any error of law by the Circuit Court judge or that the process leading to the dismissal of his application was flawed. His application was also made outside the permitted time limits. He was not surprised the Circuit Court and District Court had dismissed the application.