GAA officials not above the law, judge tells refereee
Posted on 9th March 2022 at 19:54
A judge has told a GAA referee that there is no exemption from the law for important participants in GAA activities.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin made her remark before convicting Kieran Harvey for a parking offence outside the grounds of Éire Óg GAA club last July.
Mr Harvey of Aughanteeroe, Gort Road, Ennis was contesting the prosecution and told Judge Larkin that he had simply no choice in the matter but to park his car outside the club grounds on a grass margin.
Mr Harvey was at the club on July 17th, 2021 to referee an under-13 hurling match. He told the court that Éire Óg has more than 1,000 members but has parking facilities for only 40 cars and the carpark was full.
“I parked in a careful and considered a manner as I possibly could. I did not obstruct any oncoming traffic coming back towards Ennis or going towards Kilrush,” he told the judge. “I did not obstruct any pedestrians or any wheelchair users in the vicinity.”
Mr Harvey handed a letter from Éire Óg into court which outlined the circumstances about why he had to park outside the grounds on the day.
“You are telling me the law applies to various people but not to GAA?” Judge Larkin asked Mr Harvey. “I’m sorry. I can’t accept this as an adequate excuse from a mature adult like yourself in a position of responsibility.”
Mr Harvey was fined €50.
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