THREE HURLERS from Galway have secured a High Court injunction preventing the local GAA authorities taking disciplinary action against them arising out of an alleged assault on a referee.

The three, all from the Mullagh club, received 12-week suspensions in November last following a game in last year’s Galway senior club championship.

Those suspensions were served but earlier this month they were notified the Galway County Board intends to recommence the disciplinary process. They claim that move is in breach of fair procedures.

Conor Dervan is a member of the Galway senior hurling panel and, since being notified of new proceedings, has been unable to play in the Walsh Cup or the NHL, the court heard. Any lengthy suspensions would also affect David Glennon, man of the match for Galway in last year’ All Ireland minor hurling final, while John Rafferty has been unable to resume playing with the Mullagh club.

Yesterday, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy granted Dervan, Glennon and Rafferty an interim injunction preventing the Galway County GAA Board suspending them from playing hurling and entering into a disciplinary process that would result in their suspension.

The order was granted on an ex-parte (one side only) basis and was returned to later this week.

Jonathan Kilfeather SC, for the three, said their suspensions arose from an October 18th semi-final match between Loughrea and Mullagh at Athenry which resulted in Mullagh losing by one point.

Following the game, it was alleged the referee, Christy Helebert, was assaulted by the Mullagh players, a category five infraction under GAA rules. A suspension of 48 weeks was proposed for any player found guilty of this.

Following a decision by the Galway County Board, the three players were suspended last November for 12 weeks. No appeal was lodged and their suspensions ended in mid-January when they assumed the matter was at an end.

Counsel said the decision to re-hear the matter was due to a directive from the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee which had raised concerns about how the disciplinary matter was handled in Galway. It appeared the CCC wanted the Galway County Board to enforce a penalty of 48 weeks which, counsel argued, was an unlawful interference with the original disciplinary hearing. Solicitors for the players had attempted to get the GAA’s Dispute Resolution Authority involved but it had said it had no jurisdiction to do so.