THE HIGH Court has struck out a claim by an Irish tug of war club that it was wrongly disciplined for refusing to take part in an international competition.
The action against the Tug of War International Federation arose from a decision by St Patrick’s tug of war club, Hackballscross, Co Louth, not to compete because a rival team was wearing allegedly “non-compliant footwear” during the semi-finals of the men’s world indoor championships in Killarney in 2006.
Nicola Conway, O’Hanlon Park, Dundalk, Louth, secretary of St Patrick’s, brought proceedings against the federation and two of its officers on behalf of herself and the club. She represented herself in the proceedings.
Last month, the federation asked the court to dismiss the claim on grounds no cause of action was shown and/or it was frivolous and vexatious. Ms Justice Mary Laffoy yesterday granted that application and struck out Ms Conway’s proceedings as an abuse of process.
The dispute arose when St Patrick’s was penalised by the Irish Tug of War Association over withdrawing from the semi-finals. St Pat’s and two other semi-finalists complained a rival squad was wearing non-compliant footwear.
When a federation representative ruled the footwear was compliant, the three clubs withdrew from the competition. In August 2006, the federation imposed a one-year suspension from international competition on St Patrick’s.
The Irish association had imposed a €1,000 fine on the club, which it paid and agreed not to compete until March 2007 “in accordance with the sentence imposed”.