GAA task force meets to tackle alcohol abuse

The GAA's new alcohol abuse task force has met for the first time.

The task force has been set up to consider how the association might positively contribute to reducing alcohol and substance abuse in Irish society.

The members of the committee are former Galway hurling All Ireland winning captain Joe Connolly; Michael Whelan of Guinness, Noreen Doherty, Donegal county secretary; Timothy Maher, the primary schools representative on central council; John Lonergan, governor of Mountjoy Prison; Colm Jordan, former president of the Union of Students of Ireland and Kilkenny hurling legend DJ Carey.

GAA president Gerry Kelly said that he did not expect the committee to solve all the problems of abuse, but that the views and considerations of this highly experienced and disparate group could make a substantial contribution in terms of the broader issue.

He said that he hoped that they would be in a position to furnish their report by next spring.