Committee set up to investigate Tyrone assaults

A FOUR-PERSON committee has been set up to investigate the serious violence which marred the end of last Friday night’s Tyrone Ladies senior football final.

Match referee Simon Brady and Tyrone ladies football board chairman Martin Conway were both knocked unconscious following a narrow victory for St Macartan over Carrickmore.

St Macartan’s won with a late point in Bredagh and as Brady checked his scores, he was attacked by a spectator.

A full board meeting was called for last night in Cappagh and an estimated 60 delegates were in attendance.

It had been expected that the post-match incidents would be discussed but the fallout will not be dealt with just yet.

Tyrone officials were supplied with rules from Croke Park to abide by and the four-person committee will be made up of three members of the Tyrone executive, along with a person from outside the county.

Sources indicated last night that the perpetrators will be dealt with by Wednesday of next week at the latest.

It is also understood that members of the St Macartan’s club are bitterly disappointed that they have been dragged into the mess, insisting that they had nothing to do with the assaults on Brady and Conway.

A St Macartan’s source explained: “That was a massive occasion for us — to get three-in-a-row, having not won the championship for the previous 11 years. For that to happen marred the occasion.

“We were so disappointed to pick up the Monday newspapers and see our club girls on the front page of one of them. We had absolutely no involvement in that incident and we’re annoyed at the picture that was portrayed.”

It has also emerged that this isn’t the first time Carrickmore have found themselves embroiled in controversy.

Following their defeat in the 2001 Ulster final against Monaghan Harps, the referee said that he was struck and spat on by spectators. Carrickmore were later fined £500.