Fans face bus booze fines in North

GAA fans in the North face huge fines if they drink on buses to matches or celebrate with their team on the pitch in from now on.

New legislation, introduced by Northern Ireland Sports Minister Caral Ní Chuilín, covers all sporting fixtures in the six counties. Ahead of the All-Ireland qualifiers this weekend, GAA fans travelling to matches in the six counties from the Republic ofIreland could also be affected by these rulings.

Delegates at last weekend’s GAA Central Council were warned about the legislation whereby fans encroaching on a pitch surface are liable to be fined a four-figure sum and could face a three-month prison term for the offence. However, the difficulty with enforcing the rule was highlighted by Ulster delegates who pointed out that PSNI officers are rarely on duty at inter-county matches in the north. GAA chiefs were still keen to inform delegates of the ruling and outlined that the Government have been asked to adopt similar legislation through the Dáil.

Tyrone and Donegal clash in the provincial SFC semi-final in Clones on Sunday, while there is a qualifier double-header on Saturday afternoon in Casement Park, with Antrim’sinter-county teams facing Carlow in hurling and Westmeath in football.

The law that states carrying or drinking alcohol on buses will be of particular interest to GAA fans. The new legislation decrees that PSNI officers are permitted to board any bus carrying fans to a sporting fixture and if they discover alcohol on board, the bus company is liable to be fined.

The GAA is seeking to make fans who may be travelling from the Republic to the north, if their team is involved in an away All-Ireland senior qualifier tie, to be aware of the ruling.