Gaelic football club in fraud probe

A top gaelic football club in Northern Ireland is at the centre of a fraud probe into a multi-million pound ground improvement scheme, it was revealed today.

Enniskillen Gaels in Co Fermanagh must open its accounts to detectives investigating how the repairs were financed.

The club is expected to learn within the next fortnight whether it will face charges as part of an inquiry which has also rocked soccer in the North.

Seven leading football teams have been under scrutiny from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s fraud squad for months.

A PSNI spokesman revealed today: “Decisions on prosecutions are imminent.”

The Enniskillen GAA side, which reached the Ulster club senior championship finals twice in the last five years, was added to the list during a huge investigation into the British government’s Safe Sports Ground Scheme.

Clubs were entitled to 85% grants for urgent stadium repairs under the £3.3m (€4.8m). The rest was supposed to come from their own finances.

Police were called in by the Northern Ireland Sports Council when monitoring checks raised concerns.

Enniskillen Gaels secretary Gregory Kelly confirmed the club received cash from the scheme to upgrade its Brewster Park ground.

But Mr Kelly insisted he was unaware of a police investigation.

He added: “I can’t say anything more until I find out what’s going on.”

Half of the 60 soccer, rugby and gaelic football teams awarded grants were initially examined.

Detectives then narrowed down the probe to invoices for work carried out under the scheme by Irish League football clubs Coleraine, Bangor, Institute, Dungannon Swifts, Limavady United, Carrick Rangers and Tobermore United.

But a police spokesman today confirmed: “A referral has been made to the PSNI from the Sports Council in respect of an Enniskillen GAA club.

“Investigations are ongoing and it would be improper for us to discuss the amounts of money (allegedly involved) at this stage.”