'This must not become the norm' — Investigation into alleged assault of under-9 hurler at Thurles blitz

 

The Munster Council are to investigate an alleged assault of an under-9 player during a game in Thurles on Saturday.

The juvenile hurler participating in a blitz organised by the province is understood to have been hurt following the incident at Dr Morris Park after a non-playing individual entered the playing area and allegedly grabbed the child by the throat.

“We are awaiting a report from the blitz,” said Munster GAA PRO Bob Ryan. “We will certainly be investigating the matter.” 

In a statement to the Irish Examiner , An Garda Síochána confirmed it was contacted in relation to the matter.

“Gardaí at Thurles were alerted shortly after 1pm on Saturday 15th October 2022 following an incident of alleged assault at a children’s sports event in Thurles.

“Inquiries into the matter are ongoing. As the incident involves young persons, An Garda Síochána will not be commenting further at this time.” 

The incident follows a series of flashpoints at club games in the last three months. Two club mentors in Wexford, arising from two separate cases, and another in Roscommon have recently received lengthy suspensions.

Last month, an U15 football championship game in Kilcummin, Co Kerry was abandoned following a sideline altercation that resulted in one mentor being brought to hospital. Two weeks earlier, an U11 game in Abbeydorney was abandoned arising from verbal abuse aimed at a referee.

Also in September, a minor football semi-final between Castlebar Mitchels and Westport in Co Mayo was abandoned after an altercation between a player and an adult non-player. While a referee in Waterford also brought proceedings in an U12 hurling game to a halt due to comments aimed at him.

GAA 'needs to get a grip' on the issue

Partly in response to the violence shown against match officials, the GAA last Thursday launched a “Respect the Referee” weekend due to take place at senior county finals next weekend.

Speaking this morning, former GAA president Sean Kelly MEP said that the GAA "needs to get a grip" on the problem of abuse through stiffer penalties to show that it was not acceptable for adults to behave this way.

Seán Kelly MEP.

"There should be zero tolerance for actions like this and this needs to start at club level," he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

"This must not become the norm."

Mr Kelly called for each club to establish its own code of conduct and make it known to players, officials and parents so it was known that it was "not acceptable to abuse referees or players."

Clubs know those who these hotheads are. If this is to be stamped out, it has to be done internally. 

He said each club must outlaw such behaviour and identify those who are likely to behave this way.

He also called on the GAA should adopt a two-pronged approach to the issues — with no tolerance of such behaviour from "top to bottom" and with stricter penalties. 

"The onus should be put on clubs to identify such behaviour and then sort it out," he added.