Probe into violent Tyrone scenes begins

AN investigation into the violent scenes that marred the end of last Friday’s Tyrone ladies senior football final is officially underway.

The full county committee of the Tyrone Ladies Gaelic Football Association met on Monday evening, where a four-person committee was established to carry out an enquiry.

As revealed in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, the committee comprises three members of the Tyrone executive, the fourth member from outside the county.

A statement issued late on Monday night confirmed the investigation committee has now been established in line with guidelines set down in the official Ladies Football rulebook.

Findings are due to be delivered to a full Tyrone county board meeting next month.

The PSNI have also launched a separate investigation and it is understood at least one statement has been received.

The Beragh club, who hosted the clash between Carrickmore and St Macartan’s, have also been contacted for their version of events.

St Macartan’s won the game thanks to a late 20m free awarded by referee Simon Brady, who was knocked unconscious after the final whistle by a spectator.

Tyrone ladies chairman Martin Conway was also knocked out when he went to the aid of the match referee. It has since emerged that the referee and chairman were attacked by two different people.

The clubs involved in last week’s final, meanwhile, have agreed to cooperate fully with all investigations.

A number of officials contacted by this newspaper yesterday were remaining tight-lipped on the matter.

Both Brady and Conway have since returned to work and reports have also indicated that abusive chants were shouted at the referee as he lay unconscious on the ground.

An official video is understood to clearly identify the two attackers, who could face criminal proceedings.

A St Macartan’s statement has also revealed the club carried out an internal investigation and are satisfied that none of their club members were involved in the two separate assaults.

As revealed in yesterday’s paper, St Macartan’s are also unhappy that photographs of the post-match incidents show some of their members in close proximity to Brady and Conway following the attacks. St Macartan’s are upset the assaults “overshadowed” a third successive county final success.