Tyrone County Board closing in on culprits for mini-riot

THE TYRONE County Board believe they are closing in on the culprits for the mini-riot which marred the climax of their Division One league final last Sunday week.

Officials of the Tyrone Competitions Control Committee (CCC) have viewed video footage of the disturbances at the title decider between Carrickmore and Dromore, which erupted into violence both on and off the field, before fighting broke out among spectators in the stand at Dunmoyle – although the CCC will meet again before disclosing what, if any, sanctions will be handed out.

Members of both clubs appeared before the CCC on Tuesday night and, according to Tyrone press officer Damien Harvey, they should know their fate by tomorrow.

“The Tyrone CCC has had two meetings to discuss the incidents surrounding the Tyrone ACL Division One Final. Whilst significant progress has been made, the CCC are reluctant to conclude the process until they have considered all the information presented to them,” said Harvey.

“It is anticipated that the matter will be concluded by Friday of this week. The details of any proposed sanctions will be issued directly to the secretary of the club so as not to prejudice any appeal hearing which may arise.”

The violence erupted four minutes from the end of the title decider, which Dromore won by five points to complete the league and championship double; earlier this season a referee was assaulted at a women’s match in Tyrone, which resulted in lifetime bans for two club members.

Earlier this week GAA president Christy Cooney described as “unacceptable by any stretch of the imagination” the unruly scenes that marred the climax of Sunday’s AIB Connacht club football final between St Brigid’s and Corofin in Kiltoom, and it’s also unclear what, if any, sanctions will be handed down by the Connacht Council arising from Mayo referee Liam Devenney being surrounded on the pitch after St Brigid’s one-point win (0-11 to 0-10).

In the meantime, Cooney has said more time and work is needed before he can discuss the full implications of the new Slattery Report, a specially commissioned report on the health and safety of GAA county grounds which it is feared might result in an about a 25 per cent decrease in the overall capacity across the various venues.

“I welcome the report,” says Cooney, “and they’ve gone away to do some more work and let’s see what the final outcome is. Coiste Bainistí (Management Committee) are currently considering it. So no decisions are made. The National Infrastructure committee are also meeting all counties.

“Some are a bit more challenging than others, but we have to have health and safety standards current in all our venues, so we will do what’s right for the association and our membership.”

Among the recommendations already disclosed is that Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s capacity could be cut to just over 32,000, down from 43,500, unless improved health and safety standards are met.

It is also reported that Cusack Park in Ennis, which can hold 27,000, will be reduced to just 14,800, and Hyde Park in Roscommon could have its capacity of just over 33,000 reduced to under 15,000. Even the recently renovated Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney could be cut from around 41,000 to 28,000.

“We’ll be in a better position in February to make some announcements around that,” added Cooney, “but also we have the opportunity to put things in place to overcome the challenges in the health and safety document about health and safety standards.

“Some counties will be in a position to improve things in that period of time, and some may be not as fortunate.

“That’s a challenge and we have a responsibility to do the work the National Infrastructure Committee have undertook. And we’ll do what needs to be done.

“That’s the important thing, that we put in place good health and safety measures not only for our supporters but our players.”