Gaelic Games End-of-season review: GAA director general Liam Mulvihill sees no reason that the case of James McCartan can't be considered by the Games Administration Committee pending a court hearing concerning the same incident.
"Our policy is always to go ahead with our own process independent of civic procedures. I know there have been extraordinary circumstances surrounding the delay in this case and that's unfortunate. I saw from reports that he or the county may be considering an injunction if the GAC were to go ahead but that's a separate matter."
It was revealed at the weekend that the Down All-Ireland medallist would be facing assault charges following a challenge match between his county and Westmeath whose full back Kenny Larkin suffered a broken jaw in an incident alleged to involve McCartan.
The GAC's investigation into the matter has dragged on throughout the summer and even recently was supposed to have been concluded early this month.
There is apprehension in Down that any finding by the GAC might prejudice the player's right to a fair trial. Mulvihill disagrees.
"There are many precedents for this," he said. "One recently involved an official who was up in court for assaulting a player and he had been suspended for 12 months. It's not unusual in any year to have two or three civic cases arising from the games."
Other issues considered at yesterday's GAA end-of-year review included the possibility of the International Rules series being extended to three tests. It was acknowledged that the Ireland team management had reservations about this but the GAA would discuss it with players who had been involved in the international series.
It was confirmed that Ireland's trips to Australia would probably take place in late October but the home series would continue to be held earlier in the month. The GAA are also considering a two o'clock start to matches to make the broadcasts more accessible to the Australian audience.
Although there are hopes that Croke Park's northern end, the now demolished Hill 16, will be ready for next year's Leinster football final and All-Ireland semi-finals, the target date given by the builders is September.
"We initially hoped that it would be finished in time for the Leinster football final," according to Mulvihill but the target date the builders have given is the All-Ireland finals.
The GAA debt on the redevelopment of Croke Park was confirmed to be running at €100 million when all outstanding works of completion are taken into account. These include the new terracing at €27 million and other sums such as the maintenance and renovation of the Cusack Stand, nearly 10 years old, which is expected to cost €10 million before the facilities are again sold when the second five-year term expires next year.
Relations with local residents were described as "excellent". Mulvihill ascribed this to the structures that had been established. "There is a structure for regular meetings and when you have an overall agreement and good structures in place you should be able to deal with any problems."
President Sean Kelly also outlined the function of a new body, the Bye-Laws Committee, intended to advise counties on keeping proposed congress motions in order.
"It's a complicated area," he said. "One motion to a special congress required citation of 16 different rules. This new procedure allows application to be made to the Bye Laws Committee to vet motions before they are submitted to congress."
A group to be chaired by Dublin's Gerry Brady will look at the possible ways of breaking down the GAC's remit into discipline and fixtures. According to Kelly there is interest in the Australian model, which uses a commissioner, usually a senior lawyer, to investigate all matters of discipline.
