Refs boss Curley condemns ‘crazy’ assault on Barrett

NATIONAL Referees Association chairman Mick Curley has condemned the assault on former inter-county official Willie Barrett during a Tipperary club game.

Barrett was struck twice with a hurley by a Carrick Davin ‘supporter’ and abandoned the South SHC match against Ballingarry 10 minutes into the second half at Kilsheelan on Saturday evening.

South Board chairman Dick Egan has confirmed the receipt of Barrett’s match report and the divisional board met last night to discuss the incident which dominated Tipperary local radio yesterday.

Curley said: “It’s not something we hear about too often and it’s not something we want to start hearing about.

“I wish Willie a speedy recovery and hope that he’s back refereeing shortly. What happened is just crazy and this kind of thing wasn’t prevalent at all up to the last year or so. Since then, there have been a number of incidents and while compared to the number of games that are played, these are isolated events one of them is one too many.’’

Gardaí are also investigating the assault on the highly-respected Barrett, who reported soreness yesterday almost two days after the attack.

He was struck twice by his assailant, whose name is known to Gardaí and the South Board, and received a cut to his back from the first blow before the referee protected himself from a second strike with his hand.

Egan said yesterday: “The referee’s report is with it and we’re meeting at 9.30pm.

“Certain things have to be checked out but we hope to have this done and dusted by Wednesday.

“We have to establish the assailant’s name officially – we have itunofficially.”

Egan added: “Willie Barrett, to me, is one of the most respected officials that I have ever met – a gentleman of the GAA. Any interference with a referee is unacceptable. Willie is a great character, a strong man and he will get over it but what happened is just not acceptable.”

A minimum two-year suspension and possible lifetime ban is on the cards for Barrett’s attacker but South Board officials are first trying to ascertain whether or not the man in question is a member of the Carrick Davin club before action is taken.

Meanwhile, Curley has expressed his dismay that the experimental playing rule relating to the handpass in Gaelic Football was shot down at GAA Annual Congress in Down over the weekend.

He said: “My biggest regret on the playing rules is that the handpass in football was turned down – I thought players were getting used to it and they were making a real effort. It gave a clear indication of what was right and wrong because there are too many versions of the handpass and it was that much harder for a referee to decide whether there was a definite striking action or not.”