Rory Gallagher

[PAULD123]

While I don't expect Jarlath to be over every jot and tittle and each case,  if he can't get involved in a high profile case that isn't subject to court proceedings then when can he?

Perhaps he's seen the police referral report to the PPS (that we the public haven't seen) and made his own judgement? 

He's the president of the GAA - buck stops with him

If Jarlath had such valid evidence that he feels justified in intervening then why hasn't the GAA acted in an official capacity to ban RG?

It's wrong no matter what way. Either there isn't valid evidence and so Jarlath was wrong to act.  Or there is valid evidence and the GAA was wrong to not act. Either way its a massive failing.

Also if there is valid evidence then why didn't the DRA see it? Because their conclusion wasn't that it wasn't a strong enough case, their conclusion was that they're was no case to answer. 

When can he get involved was your question? Well my answer is that he shouldn't ever.  Not personally and directly anyway.  He is in charge of a whole organisation with official vehicles for dealing with theses matters.  He should never circumvent the organisation he is meant to lead, he should only ever direct the official process.

And by the way. The Armagh player arrested for indecent assault is high profile (All- Ireland champion) and not being acted on by our courts. Why hasn't he written to Armagh to ask them to drop him?

[Whishtup]

I think he Burns has prevented a storm here. That's why it's different to other GAA members who have been in court or charged. I do expect consistency regarding the latest Armagh scandal but I'd say no one can comment at the minute as it's a live case, maybe?

The fact is that RG continuing to manage is a bad look for the GAA who are trying to support women more within the organisation.
If we change the lens to not assuming that the allegations are false, then he can't just walk back into a position of responsibility as, whether he likes it or not, he is high profile now.
I don't think anyone should be talking about the mental state of the accuser without knowing the mental state of the accused. It's a very one sided way of looking at it and taints our opinion of whether the allegations are true or not
The fact that RG doesn't back away from coaching does suggest a lack of grip on reality and disregard for clubs that he is managing and people who are genuinely upset by the whole sorry state. Jaysus, read the room, take up something else. 

[Norm-Peterson]

You can't really blame men like Jarlath, they have their wives breathing down their necks. If he didn't intervene he would have a lot to listen to at home.

The question is will Jarlath have a problem with the Armagh player involved in assault playing for his club? Gallagher isn't allowed to be involved in a club yet others are? The likes of McFaul and Kyle Hayes climbed the Hogan steps. Is that a bad look for the GAA too?

[David McKeown]

Thanks David; as always an informed and useful post.
On point 6: the fact that a report was commissioned is in the public domain, but the content is not. I think this is significant,along with the decision by the GAA to formally join a partnership with Ruhama and White Ribbon Ireland in November; one of the commitments was to 'encourage men and boys to engage in active allyship to eradicate gender-based violence in society'.
Therefore while I understand your conclusion in the final paragraph, I disagree with it, and believe Jarlath was correct to become involved.

Its a fair position to hold and I wouldnt criticise it.  My criticism of his involvement is more based on the impact of the structures within the association.  There are mandated bodies and processes set out within the various strands of the associations intertwined rules and operating procedures.  Given my job and my regular involvement particularly in the past with theses different procedures my concern is the involvement of the president as far as I can see stepping outside his remit within those rules and procedure is a dangerous precedent.  Either the procedures are robust and effective and therefore can not be over ruled by the President or they arent and the president should be championing reform.  My concern is that by interferring on an ad hoc basis the impression is given the President didnt like the outcome of the associations proceedures and bowed to public pressure and/or his own feelings on the matter, which is of little use moving forward.   

[Wildweasel74]

Let me know, when he trys to change the name of Kevin Lynchs, can't wait for Brolly to go to town on him, on that regard.

[Wildweasel74]

Another old case jumps out from America. involving Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger, when he was accused of Rape. Not once but twice  [first settled out of court, 2nd He was suspended for 4 games, but no chargrd. then he was back playing. The issue always arises up from time to time the whole way through his career. And I not go into Ray Lewis [Ravens)shooting someone. As far as this issue, the man guilty by social media and public opinion, but not where it should count court. But we people playing. Convicted of serious assaults in camogie and hurling playing.

[tiempo]

Another old case jumps out from America. involving Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger, when he was accused of Rape. Not once but twice  [first settled out of court, 2nd He was suspended for 4 games, but no chargrd. then he was back playing. The issue always arises up from time to time the whole way through his career. And I not go into Ray Lewis [Ravens)shooting someone. As far as this issue, the man guilty by social media and public opinion, but not where it should count court. But we people playing. Convicted of serious assaults in camogie and hurling playing.

Would be a matter for the Camogie leadership, who I'm sure have followed due process and have valid reasons to endorse the perpetrator continuing to play, probably active allyship

[Spike]

Only 5% of Domestic Abuse cases end up in convictions so either a lot of females are telling lies or the legal system isn't fit for purpose.  The police report to the PPS hasn't been made public but they have recommended some action, to which the PPS say they cant guarantee a conviction with it.   

But some of the above posts are extremely worrying. It appears some are advocating that no matter the crime, the perp should be allowed back into the GAA and JB, as leader of our organisation, should ignore it, no matter how high profile. The agenda being that RG should be allowed back in, to deliver Derry an All-Ireland, as the eyewitnesses should not be believed.

And even if they were believed, on the grand scale of things Domestic Abuse against females is on the lower scale of crimes. Remember RG was reported to the GAA 24 years ago and it was brushed under the carpet.

JB hasn't forced Naas to do anything.  If Naas had accepted RG there was nothing JB could do.

Maybe, just maybe, this is the start of a process of JB cleaning up the GAA's act, finally protecting our female members, promoting heavily the Game Changer Inititive and setting a zero tolerance on characters deemed unbefitting the stature of the GAA, regardless of how much success they can bring?

[tbrick18]

Firstly referring to" the Maguire woman" shows a level of disrespect (not needed).
Not sure if you are being disingenuous or just totally missed the point.
You state he may be suing her. I'd wager if he was it would be fairly common knowledge. Every man and his dog knows the name of the Armagh player being investigated reference the trip to America
The point is that a quick Google can find the tweet that the lady made.
If it were libelous it would have been removed either voluntarily or at the request of Mr. Gallagher's legal team.
The reference to " the perp" just smacks of a teenage child.
The accused/ the alleged guilty party/ the person about whoom the allegations have been made?

Referring to the "Maguire woman" is not intended as disrespect - I don't know her or her husbands first name, it's just a turn of phrase so wind your neck in. If you want to go back through any of my posts you'll struggle to find anywhere where I have disrespected RG's ex, the Maguire woman, or anyone else for that matter.
Not my bag.

And I'm being entirely genuine whereas you are surmising by using language like "I'd wager if he was"...
That's just guesswork. We don't know if he's suing and that's fact.

I was using the word "perp" as a shortened term for "perpetrator" as in "perpetrator of a crime". Just to spell it out for you - I wasn't referring to RG, I was giving a hypothetical example. So you're a child...I'm not...and if you call me one again I'm telling.

[tiempo]

https://learning.gaa.ie/gamechanger

If the GAA LGFA and Camogie are in lockstep with regards to Game Changer and integration then it needs to work both ways and gender based DV perpetrated against men needs to result in the same outcomes for the offending females

Then there's the small matter of an issue within the Armagh county setup, and if JB isn't going to address that in a similar manner then he's taken an a la carte approach and undermined the whole initiative and the GAAs internal disciplinary and safeguarding processes

The GAA (and future integrated incarnation) is basically going to become a sloganeering bandwagon that attempts to solve all society's ills while self-flagellating itself that it cant, apparently its a place 'Where We All Belong' until someone decides you don't depending on furore/profile

As stated in a previous post RG's children are the collateral and that is desperately sad

The GAA needs to stop trying to be the cure to all Ireland's ills and throwing people under the bus to make a point based on virtue signalling

The barometer here should be rules/regs/processes, evidence and risk - a JB solo run serves none of these and active allyship is nowhere near robust enough as a tool (just another slogan) for blanket roll-out given the absence of training or guidance and the propensity of people to jump to conclusions

[imtommygunn]

If the Armagh boy is off the panel is it not addressed? What would he do to address it?

FWIW it is obvious that Gallagher is not good one however I think Burns has overstepped here. There should be conscience at play here wrt the club etc and there wasn't but it does look like Gallagher will never "work" again. If the GAA didn't ban him then I don't get how they do this.

[Saffron_sam20]

If the Armagh boy is off the panel is it not addressed? What would he do to address it?

FWIW it is obvious that Gallagher is not good one however I think Burns has overstepped here. There should be conscience at play here wrt the club etc and there wasn't but it does look like Gallagher will never "work" again. If the GAA didn't ban him then I don't get how they do this.

Is he still going to play club football? If he is then going by Burns logic he will need to contact his club to ensure they know they are damaging the GAA by allowing that, its how it works right?

[general_lee]

It's funny how Rory Gallagher will publicly threaten Burns with legal action but not anyone who made defamatory allegations against a supposed innocent man.

[imtommygunn]

Well I guess the question is what is the definition of addressed. It's a question which pretty much highlights the can of worms that has just been opened.

[johnnycool]

FWIW and I'm no expert on this but I do also believe the Burns overstepped the mark with Naas GAA in getting involved in all of it.

However Naas and whoever wishes to appoint any coach, either internally or externally have a duty to assess the "risks" involved with those appointments, not just Gallagher.

In reality is Gallagher a risk to the senior footballers in Naas, probably not, but I'd have serious reservations about appointing him to a ladies team, but that's all hypothetical.

It's a really grey area as we're seeing with others within the associations being found guilty of serious assaults and yet there's no issue.

I like Burns but if he tries to be all things to all people he's going to make a balls of it.