Mulvey rules out Rebels row role

LABOUR Relations Commission (LRC) chief Kieran Mulvey believes that the protagonists in the current dispute should forget their differences and reach a settlement.

Admitting he was ‘‘astonished at the turn of events’’ following the re-appointment of Gerald McCarthy as manager of the hurling team, Mulvey stated that he would not be offering to intervene at the present time. He expressed the view that incoming GAA President Christy Cooney and Director-General Paraic Duffy had the experience to help broker a deal.

“I would like to think that Christy Cooney would be able to hand over a trophy to a Cork team during his presidency, the same as Nickey Brennan was able to do with Kilkenny,’’ he told RTÉ’s ‘Business’ programme yesterday.

Mulvey, who last year successfully negotiated the peace settlement between the striking Cork players and the County Board over the appointment of Teddy Holland as football manager, added: “Maybe there is an incentive there for the people on the two sides and people locally to forget about what has been said and done – and do the best for Cork hurling and Cork football.’’

He said he thought he had laid a basis which would avoid similar disputes in the future. “But we are back where we started, again. There are a lot of issues here, but a lot has now come down to strong personalities on both sides.”

Describing Gerald McCarthy as someone ‘‘with impeccable credentials and a legend in the land, not only in Cork,’’ he said that there were also ‘‘strong individuals’’ on the other side who themselves had achieved a tremendous amount. “What I feel sad about is why can’t we all get in a room, talk this out and short it out in the interest of Cork hurling and Cork football,” he said.