Concern over Garda action

The GAA will be seeking full clarification from senior Garda Síochána officials as to how and why a player was approached after a GAC sub-committee meeting at Croke Park last month.

An investigation into an incident from last May involving Down's James McCartan and Westmeath's Kenny Larkin is ongoing, and McCartan was approached by two plain clothes gardaí as he left Croke Park following a personal hearing before the committee.

McCartan was informed by the gardaí they wanted to question him regarding the incident, which left Larkin with a broken jaw. Although no interview actually took place, the GAA are seriously concerned about the approach to McCartan on their property without any prior notification.

"It was inevitable that clarification would be sought on something like this," said a GAA spokesperson. "So we will be seeking interaction with Gardaí at the most senior level as to why and how this player was approached when and where he was, and what was the basis and rationale for such unprecedented action."

For now, however, the GAA would not comment further on the matter as both their investigation and that of the Garda are ongoing. Clearly the nature of the Garda intervention and how it came about has left them concerned about future investigations carried out by the GAC into similar incidents.

But according to the Garda press office, the investigation into the incident has followed normal procedure. They had yet to receive any formal request from the GAA for any clarification on the matter.

"The Westmeath gardaí received a complaint in May regarding this particular incident," said a press officer with the Garda. "We cannot comment further on this individual case but it would be normal procedure for different investigations to be carried out in different ways.

"Gardaí were appointed to investigate this case and they carried out the investigation as they saw fit. And this investigation wouldn't be unusual or out of the ordinary. There are plenty of incidences where people are found in various places as part of the investigation process."

Westmeath have denied they got the Garda involved but they have indicated Larkin is likely to institute civil proceedings regarding the matter. The player had been marking McCartan in a challenge match in Newcastle last May, and it was during an off-the-ball incident that Larkin had his jaw broken.

Larkin, a trainee gardaí at the time, missed the championship with Westmeath, and the county board had been pressing for a full investigation into the incident.

In the meantime Larkin has resumed playing and is expected to feature in a challenge game against the Dublin senior footballers on Sunday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the St Jude's GAA club at Tymon Park, Templeogue (2.15 throw-in). The game marks Páidí Ó Sé's first outing as Westmeath manager. The Dublin management, however, were only informed about the game in recent days and team preparations have been non-existent.

"We don't really know which players we'll have available," said Dublin selector Dave Billings. "A lot of the lads are missing for various reasons but we'll try to put together the best team we can."

Two of Sunday's Leinster club championship matches will be broadcast live by TG4, from Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, starting at 1.0 with the football quarter-final between O'Hanrahan's of Carlow and the Laois champions, which will be decided on Saturday in Portlaoise when Stradbally met Arles-Kilcruise. The hurling semi-final between Rathnure of Wexford and O'Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny follows at 2.30.