Racial abuse allegations against Meath thrown out by GAA

Meath GAA Co Board has been exonerated arising out of allegations of racism following the dismissal of a Westmeath player during the Leinster MFC semi-final at Páirc Táilteann on Saturday 6th July.

The matter was investigated by the GAA’s Child Welfare and Protection Committee last week after Westmeath GAA Co Board made an official complaint to Croke Park.

“Meath Co Board and the minor team have been cleared completely by the investigation in Croke Park and we are pleased with that outcome,” Meath PRO Martin O’Halloran told the Meath Chronicle today.

It was intended that the matter would be on the agenda for the next Co Board meeting on Monday 12th August at Áras Táilteann and it is likely that some delegates will want clarification on the what happened at that meeting.

The complaint from Westmeath Co Board related to the alleged behaviour of Meath players and supporters at the semi-final which Westmeath won by 0-11 to 1-6 despite playing most of the second-half with only 14 players.

Westmeath full-back Israel Ilunga received a straight red card following an incident five minutes into the second-half and it is understood that the allegation arose following that

The incident escalated and as well as a kind of rolling maul that involved players from each team, there was some pushing and shoving on the sideline between team officials.

The red card would have ruled the Westmeath player out of the provincial decider the following Sunday, but the sending-off was rescinded following an appeal by Westmeath Co Board and the full-back was cleared to play in the final against Kildare which the Lilywhites won.

Speaking to the Meath Chronicle after the game, Westmeath manager Tommy Carr did not mention any alleged racist remarks when questioned about red card.

Westmeath will face Mayo in the All-Ireland MFC quarter-final in Tullamoe on Monday next at 2.15.

The Westmeath team for that game is - J Hyland; M Darling, I Ilunga, B O’Donoghue; A McCormack, L Varley, D Giles; C O’Brien, S Omokuro; R Cunningham, R Caffrey, K Shanley; L Loughlin, R Hickey, J Corbally.

Investigations into the behaviour of officials during the 'exchange of views' on the sideline has yet to be dealt with.

Conall Collier