THE GAA has issued guidelines on handling child abuse allegations, which recommend immediate internal investigations of claims against its members, employees or volunteers. The policy recommendations cover complaints from adults of childhood abuse.
The seven page document contains a reporting policy and a 10 step procedure list for the confidential investigation and management of allegations of physical injury as well as emotional or sexual abuse.
The approval of the guidelines by the GAA's central council follows a recent case in the North where a prominent official of the provincial council, accused of sexual abuse, was named by a number of tabloid newspapers.
The official is no longer carrying out his GAA duties and is believed to have left the country.
The guidelines state that where the alleged abuses have been perpetrated during the course of GAA duties, they will be investigated by the association's "designated person" within 24 hours of the complaint being made.
People against whom allegations are made will be immediately informed of them.
Where it is suspected that people are under investigation for abuse outside of their GAA involvement, the association will carry out a "brisk assessment".
This will involve the GAA satisfying itself that those concerned are not and will not be "a danger to the wellbeing and safety" of anyone involved with the association.
It will also satisfy itself that the continued involvement of those concerned will not "adversely impact" on its "good image".
The GAA will ensure "insofar as in practicable" that people under suspicion will not be put in a position where they may be compromised.
If the association's investigation uncovers "reasonable grounds" for the allegations, they will be immediately reported to a senior police officer. If the alleged victims are under 18, they will also be reported to the relevant health boards.
The association will make its investigations available to the authorities.
The 10 step procedures include collecting written records of the complaints and immediately informing the relevant chairperson, county chairperson and ard stiurthoir.
If the allegations are made by children, their parents or guardians will be informed and the association's procedures explained to them.
People against whom the allegations are made will be advised of the investigation by the GAA, the police and the health board.
They will be advised to report the matter to the police and told that they must not make contact with complainants or allow themselves to be put into a position where they could be "compromised".
This may mean that they are "put off duty" in the case of employees or, if volunteers, removed from their areas of responsibility.
All the informed parties will be told that the association "does not have a view on the matter at this stage".
The investigations will there take place and could lead to criminal proceedings.