Billings hit with eight-week suspension

Dublin Senior football selector David Billings has been slapped with an eight week suspension from all GAA activities for "persistant verbal abuse of officials" in UCD's recent Round Robin victory by 1-14 to 0-13 over St. Patrick's, Drumcondra on February 14 last.

Dublin Senior football selector David Billings has been slapped with an eight week suspension from all GAA activities for "persistent verbal abuse of officials" in UCD's recent Round Robin victory by 1-14 to 0-13 over St. Patrick's, Drumcondra on February 14 last.

Billings, who is Games Promotion Officer (GPO) at the South Dublin University, was reported to the GAA's Higher Education Committee (Comhairle Ardoideachais) by match referee Danny Harrington, for verbal abuse during the four point victory.

Harrington is a well known official in Dublin GAA circles and is a son of Dublin County Board Chairman Gerry.

HEC Chairman John Devanney confirmed that Billings' has used his right to appeal, and the UCD GPO will now face an internal Higher Education GAA Hearings Committee in the next week.

"It will go to our own hearings committee within the Higher Education," Devanney said.

"The request for a hearing has been put in so it does not necessarily have to happen in the next few days.

"There are a couple of hearings at the moment with regard to the Garda situation - some time in the next seven days I suppose."

Should Billings fail to win his appeal, he will have to sit out all of the remaining National Football League games for Dublin, as well as his involvement in UCD and St. Vincent's GAA.