Suspension of Limerick committee to be lifted after probe roadblock

Sports minister Patrick O’Donovan, from the Limerick County constituency, was cited in the Sport Ireland letter written by Dr Úna May to her fellow chief executive in the FAI, David Courell. He held a ‘strong desire’ for the issues to be addressed in a ‘timely and urgent’ manner.

The entire Limerick District League committee who were issued stand-down orders by the FAI in June won’t face any charges.

Consultancy company RSM were appointed to conduct a ‘fact-finding’ review of ‘governance concerns’ but the Irish Examiner can reveal the case has concluded without any sanctions being imposed.

Following the suspension of the 11 volunteers, five of whom were also involved in the underage league, the running of the LDL was overseen by the Munster FA and a new working committee.

It is now expected that an emergency general meeting will be convened in January to formalise the new committee, including those suspended who wish to be reinstated.

That’s unlikely to be the end of the matter, for those volunteers ordered to step aside for the past six months still feel aggrieved and have taken legal advice.

The FAI’s stand-down correspondence came on the back of government agency Sport Ireland raising the threat of withheld State funding unless issues of concern were investigated thoroughly and properly.

These included ‘bullying and harassment’ lodged through the RaiseAConcern helpline which the FAI established following the shocking details around historical abuse of female footballers.

Sports Minister Patrick O’Donovan, from the Limerick County constituency, was cited in the Sport Ireland letter written by Dr Úna May to her fellow chief executive in the FAI, David Courell. He held a ‘strong desire’ for the issues to be addressed in a ‘timely and urgent’ manner.

RSM contacted LDL Chairperson Ger Smyth, specifying 29 complaints, varied and historical in nature, and these were responded to.

The standard of proof required to determine any finding from evidence was civil standard, also known as balance of probability.

However, it’s understood an unwillingness by complainants to provide signed written accounts of incidents led to the episode concluding in this manner.