GAA Discipline and Investigations.

[Samuel James]

I read on another forum what some might call a rant as to the veracity of GAA investigations and subsequent discipline. It did however strike a bell with me as I was marginally involved some time ago in such a case. The club in question were quite annoyed that the charges were of a very general nature and the evidence given to the club to support such charges was non specific. Indeed it is strongly suspected that verbal evidence was taken from the other club with the accused club not given any opportunity to respond to same. Natural justice would dictate that everyone should be advised of the evidence held against them, otherwise we are in the area of kangaroo courts. The level of proof required in disciplinary cases I am informed is ''on the balance of probability.'' This is much higher than rumour and heresay. I am reliably informed by my legal friends that it is just below ''beyond all reasonable doubt.'' As again has been eluded to on another forum, can we be assured that our masters in the association have the necessary skills and are unbiased to the extent that their impartiality and discernment cannot be called into question? If not I think we should be looking at taking the necessary action to rectify the situation.
I am aware that changes were made a couple of years ago to the disciplinary procedure but if memory serves me right these were mainly to increase the powers of the disciplinary bodies rather to try and achieve a fair outcome. I would welcome the views of others on these matters.

[Give and Go]

I've been to a good few of them over the years and I always felt that justice was not served.
Procedure is that you are charged with an offence, called in and your evidence taken. You have no opportunity to refute what may  have been said in your absence.
It would be much more preferable if both sides to a dispute were brought before a Hearings Committee and could argue their case in front of each other.
I know of people suspended for 'abuse' who never opened their mouths!! Crazy stuff!

Likewise with problems over transfers etc. Where a transfer is being objected to both Clubs and the player (parents if it's an underage player) should be required to meet with the relevant Committee and put the facts on the table. Instead what usually happens is the matter comes before a County Committee, an objection is raised and it's basically voted on by delegates. More often than not the said delegates may have been canvassing for support for or against a transfer themselves and horse trading goes on. Or delegates do not decide the case on it's merits but on the popularity of a club....