GAA club ‘appalled’ by coach’s child abuse

A GAA club said it is appalled by the abuse perpetrated by a former coach against children, including one of its former players.

At Ennis Circuit Court on Monday, former club chairman, public relations officer, and coach at the Banner GAA club, James Maher, aged 69, of Clonroad Beg, Ennis, admitted 18 counts of the sexual abuse of two boys in the 1980s.

Maher was a founding member of the club. One of his victims was a player on the Banner’s U12 and U14 teams, of which Maher served as manager.