Eoin Bradley's amended sentence

[T Fearon]

I see "Ulster's top player's" ban (for striking a referee) has been commuted from 48 weeks to 24 weeks on appeal, magically making him available for most of the league and the Championship (however brief Derry's dalliance with that tournament is likely to be). In the assumption that no new eveidence was brought to the appeal (ie he struck a referee violently), and therefore no reasonable cause for his original sentence to be reduced was presented, is this not an absolute disgrace, making a mockery of what ever disciplinary system is in place in GAA circles, not too mention putting two fingers up at all referees? So much for the "Give Respect, Get Respect" mantra as well.

[fer fox ache]

Tony this has been discussed at length on the Derry thread, it's news that's a week old, you finger is surprisingly far off the pulse.

[supersarsfields]

What I don't understand is how it was reduced? I thought the minium suspension for any assault on the Ref was 48 weeks. Or am I wrong on that?
Or did they change the catagory of the offence? If so what to?

[Overthebar!]

it was originally category 5 but they reduced it to 4. for what reason remains to be seen. i'd say brennan said he would only take the job if he had a full quota of players to choose from...id expect paddy to rejoin the panel too

[nrico2006]

Surely the Derry County board do not have the authority to amend the tariff that is stipulated for offence categories, a shambles if true.

[lynchbhoy]

Surely the Derry County board do not have the authority to amend the tariff that is stipulated for offence categories, a shambles if true.

while it is wrong, there are multiple precedents in other counties where the county board have done similar.
Dara O'Se, Corks Frank murphy spring to mind...

[T Fearon]

It makes a mockery out of the rule book and shows total disrespect for referees and is effectively condoning assaults on referees, albeit from so called top players. This farce should be exercising all gaels insted of fences on Hill 16 etc

[EC Unique]

Every man and his dog know that Bradly assaulted the referee with a strike to the face. The Derry CB are just showing themselves to be weak but as LB says it is not the first time this has happened. It should not be allowed and the Ulster Council or Croke park should launch an immediate investigation.

Any other sport and he would not be on the pitch for at least 2 years and rightly so.

How have the referees in Derry reacted to this disgrace?

It is bringing the whole GAA into disrepute

[lynchbhoy]

It makes a mockery out of the rule book and shows total disrespect for referees and is effectively condoning assaults on referees, albeit from so called top players. This farce should be exercising all gaels insted of fences on Hill 16 etc

it does and I would prefer the GAA to throw the book at all these cases, not just those that hit refs, but those that hit off the ball, those players that dive and also when incidents occur when water carriers/managers/selectors interfere with players/play etc

then there are the crowds and individuals that hit refs and players - all one off things, but there is a need for the GAA to not only have policy and procedure but to enforce them as well.
this will soon sort out the problems - esp if it means that clubs ae relegated to junior for fans misdemeanours etc

[JMohan]

Surely the Derry County board do not have the authority to amend the tariff that is stipulated for offence categories, a shambles if true.

while it is wrong, there are multiple precedents in other counties where the county board have done similar.
Dara O'Se, Corks Frank murphy spring to mind...

Too right

[the wildebeest man]

Morally the wrong thing to do, as it was with Paddy a couple of years ago. Can't see any good coming of it though. But spare me the hand-wringing.

Every man and his dog know that Bradly assaulted the referee with a strike to the face. The Derry CB are just showing themselves to be weak but as LB says it is not the first time this has happened. It should not be allowed and the Ulster Council or Croke park should launch an immediate investigation.

Any other sport and he would not be on the pitch for at least 2 years and rightly so.

How have the referees in Derry reacted to this disgrace?

It is bringing the whole GAA into disrepute

That is not what he said, unless Darragh O'Se and Frank Murphy were involved with Derry.

[EC Unique]

I meant it in the conext of all County boards in general. They tend to do what suits their county's interests instead of what is in the interests of the GAA and fair play. Measures should be put in place by Croke Park to insure this can not happen and County boards are forced to keep to the rule book.

[JMohan]

There's been plenty of cases where things happened that were never even in front of a CB's CCCCC

[the wildebeest man]

I meant it in the conext of all County boards in general. They tend to do what suits their county's interests instead of what is in the interests of the GAA and fair play. Measures should be put in place by Croke Park to insure this can not happen and County boards are forced to keep to the rule book.

Sean McCague tried that with Ross Carr and big Geoffrey, but it didn't last long. In an ideal world you're spot-on, but how feasible is it for Croke Park even to try that?

[Donkeywalloper]

It will hardly come as much of a suprise to anyone. Derry county board change suspension of leading county player. How long to next major episode in what is the soap opera of derry football.