GAA steward ‘disgusted’ at abuse over broken ticket scanner

A GAA steward has criticised the abuse he received from fans attending Sunday’s League clash between Meath and Armagh in Navan.

Ciarán Kearney said he was ‘disgusted’ at language and intimidation he encountered because of a broken ticket scanner at Páirc Tailteann.

The 24-year-old said: “In my nine years of stewarding, I have never come across this level of abuse. As a steward giving my time freely, it was uncalled for. There were technical difficulties with the season ticket scanner which meant I had to type every single card number into it which took extra time. As I was trying to do this, myself and another steward were verbally abused with ‘more than colourful and threatening’ language.

“By typing in 15 digit card numbers, it saved a lot of time as we would otherwise have had to look through lists which are compiled by account numbers and not alphabetically done.

“You’re talking over 350 season ticket holders who came through — most of them in the half hour before the match.”

He continued: “We got spectators into the ground as quick as we could and even took down numbers by hand which we then put through the scanner once the rush was over. These scanners belong to Croke Park and not Meath GAA and we can only use what we are given. We have no back-ups. I must point out most of the supporters understood what was happening and were very kind and patient about it. However there were up to eight fans in their 50s who gave us dog’s abuse, even coming in on top of us in the small style area. I have to say while there were Meath fans involved, the majority who hurled the abuse had northern accents.

“Another dozen or so also gave us abuse but to a much lesser extent.”

Ciaran, who started stewarding at his native Wolfe Tone club in Meath, added: “One must understand problems do happen, but abusing the operators who are trying to use the equipment is just not fair. Like I’ve already stated, I give my time up freely, as I have for the past nine years to the GAA to steward but spectators have to realise abusing us cannot be tolerated.

“Thankfully I can honestly say it’s the first time in nine years I’ve come across this level of abuse as the majority of fans are good natured and understanding. The scanner will be replaced for the game against Cavan.

“This will not stop me stewarding as I know in every walk of life, there will always be people looking to start a row for the sake of it, but I just ask fans to bare in mind that as stewards, we do our best to get people in and out of grounds in a safe manner and do so of our own love of the game.”