If you appeal you get off, claims Castledaly delegate

A Castledaly delegate suggested that Westmeath GAA's disciplinary process is being challenged on the basis that people feel they will get off when they lodge an appeal.

Enda Kelly, a well known GAA referee and former Castledaly player, was speaking during presentation by Matt Shaw on the issue at last week’s County Committee meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel.

Mr Shaw advised clubs on the process involved once a player, mentor or club supporter receives a proposed penalty from the CCC (Competitions Control Committee) in the county. It was noted that there is a two-day period in which to request a hearing.

Enda Kelly, Castledaly delegate, felt there is a perception in the county that if you appeal a suspension you get off. However, Mr Shaw refuted this.

“No one is going to get off on a technicality any more. The best you can get is a re-hearing,” he explained.

“I wouldn’t be convinced that there is a perception that you get off (at a hearing). The vast majority of proposed penalties stick: we only hear about the person who gets off,” he remarked.

Out of nine hearings, only one underage player was cleared this year, it emerged. It was the same story at adult level in Westmeath, with just one proposed penalty overturned.

Clubs were urged that a video is almost essential at hearings in order to contradict a referee’s report. Niall Ward (Garrycastle) felt clubs need to be practical when it comes to requesting hearings as there is a lot of work involved for volunteers in putting hearings together.

“The amount of time being spent on this is above volunteer level,” he remarked.

Matt Shaw also posed the question: “If you are without a video, what are you going in (to a hearing) for?”

Mr Shaw is a former player with Lough Lene Gaels and is well-known as a hurling referee. A solicitor, he has ample experience in the GAA’s administration scene, having served on leading committees in Croke Park.

He is currently chairman of the GAA’s Central Appeals Committee in Croke Park.

Frank Mescall said referees and their judgement are totally respected by the CCC and stressed that the rule book is adhered to at all times with regards to discipline. “We may feel very sorry for a player, and have done, but we don’t deviate from the process,” he said.

The chairman applauded the work of the hearings committee in the county, noting the level of service they provide.

It also emerged that in one instance this year, a player acting as an umpire in a game in the county was suspended and in such a scenario, they are suspended from all codes, hurling and football. In general, suspensions are code specific.

A very detailed discussion took place overall, with contributions from numerous club officers, including Dermot Broughan (Cullion), Marty Dalton (St Malachy’s), Kevin Jordan (Southern Gaels), John O’Meara (Tubberclair) and Shane Donoghue (Milltownpass). The general aim was to give clubs greater guidance and thereby avoid unnecessary hearings.

At underage level, there were 37 red cards and nine of these resulted in hearings.

With regards to disruptive mentors, there were 14 red cards, with eight of those seeking hearings. Two spectators were suspended by Westmeath minor board and five clubs were sanctioned. There were four clubs disciplined.

At adult level, there were 36 red cards this year, with 13 of these seeking hearings. Four managers were suspended at adult level. There were no club sanctions or no club was disciplined at adult level. No Supporters were disciplined either.

"There are lies damn lies and statistics" remarked Mr Mescall as he presented the details of what he felt was a "regular year" in terms of disciplinary problems.