A Circuit Court Judge has ordered the GAA to provide details of its disciplinary procedures and results of its inquiry following a serious assault which took place during a junior league football match last year. A player suffered brain damage as a result.
The order was made at Galway Circuit Court by Judge Harvey Kenny during an appeal by John Joe Greaney (21), Caherlistrane, Tuam, Co Galway, against the severity of a nine-month prison sentence handed down in Headford District Court in April. Greaney had pleaded guilty to an assault charge.
Greaney was convicted of hitting Mr Michael Dunleavy (35), a player from the opposing team, on the side of the head with his fist during the closing minutes of a match between two north Galway clubs, Caherlistrane and Kilkerrin/Clonberne.
Mr Dunleavy was unconscious for some time after the attack and was put on a ventilator. He suffered haemorrhaging to the left frontal lobe of his brain and was in intensive care for 10 days.
Judge Kenny said he wanted to know if an inquiry had been conducted following the incident, which occurred on June 6th last year, and what disciplinary measures the County Board had put in place as a result of it.
Sport, the judge said, was being abused by people who "lose the head" and by GAA mentors who encourage that sort of behaviour. "We see this sort of thing all the time on TV and it doesn't surprise me that somebody gets seriously injured," he said.
Having heard the game described as "rough, hard play", Judge Kenny said the term "hard play" really meant assault.
"It is assault if you strike someone and in my book it is not hard play," he said.
Mr William Kennedy, solicitor, prosecuting, said Mr Dunleavy had been brain damaged as a result of the assault and had problems with his balance. He was married with three children and his wife had noticed a change in his personality. He had been a welder earning £500 a week but since the assault had not been able to work and was now getting £150 a week in disability benefits.
Mr Kennedy said the case had been adjourned in the District Court on one occasion to allow Greaney to pay compensation but this had not been done.
Mr Kennedy added that the GAA had said the incident was not covered by insurance but it had given the injured man £2,000 in compensation.
Judge Kenny said this was a very serious matter and he appeared surprised that the County Board was not represented in court. He said he wanted a representative of the County Board to attend Galway Circuit Court within the next couple of weeks to answer some questions.
Referring to the recent spate of assaults during GAA matches, the judge said matters were getting out of hand and even referees were being assaulted. "It is amazing how nobody suddenly sees anything when something happens, but I expect someone from the GAA to give me answers here. I'm surprised this case was dealt with in the District Court when I get far less serious offences coming before juries here," he said.
"This man was seriously injured for participating in what should be a healthy game. I expect someone from the GAA to give me answers here." Mr Tony Melia, the referee who witnessed the assault, said in his statement to gardai that he heard a loud crack like the crack from a hurley when Greaney hit Mr Dunleavy. He said he booked Greaney and sent him off immediately. However, the referee also said that he was jostled out of the way as he tried to intervene.
Judge Kenny adjourned the matter until a representative of the County Board came to the court and explained the organisation's procedures for dealing with violence at matches.