Anti-social behaviour in MacHale Park deemed ‘concerning’

REFUSING entry to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park without a ticket or an admission fee for all crowd members aged Under 16 were among suggestions put forward by delegates following incidents of anti-social behaviour in league games in Castlebar this year.

Mayo GAA County Board chairperson, Seamus Tuohy, told delegates at last week’s board meeting that over 50,000 fans had attended the league games in Castlebar and things had gone smoothly in large bar a couple of anti-social incidents in the stadium.

Among them included a number of people being removed by gardaí in the last two league games (Monaghan and Tyrone), reports of anti-social behaviour at the toilets behind the main stand, stewards being physically challenged and verbally abused on the field, over €1,000 worth of footballs stolen, and manhandling and mauling of players after games by children and adults.

There were also concerning issues such as children getting lost. Mr. Tuohy said there was an issue of a young child at the penultimate league game in Castlebar who became 'very frightened' after getting lost but professionals in the grounds helped the child find their parents.

There was also incident regarding a child falling across the wall onto the pitch and kids on the pitch and wall before the game was finished, and they will be in contact with Croke Park and the Connacht GAA Council regarding the matter.

Mr. Tuohy also said there was an incident at the Monaghan game where gates were locked when patrons were trying to leave the ground. The procedures and are being reviewed ahead of the Connaught championship game.

He added: “We are reviewing the incident. It shouldn’t have happened. We hold our hands up.”

The Mayo GAA chairperson said that society seems to be different and is posing different challenges to us all, particularly with stewards.

“One or two stewards were physically challenged on the field. It shouldn’t be happening. These are volunteers. We don’t want to see games taken away from us.”

The upcoming Connaught championship game will be an all-ticket affair and Mr. Tuohy said it might help.

The recommendation from Croke Park is that any minor coming to a game must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. He also responded to reports that minors are being dropped at the gates in big gangs; it seems to be a meeting place for them.

While he did not personally agree with charging Under 16s, he said the county board would take the appropriate steps if necessary, and said they are in contact with gardaí also regarding anti-social behaviour.

“The goal is to get supporters in and out of the grounds safely,” Mr. Tuohy stated.

Delegates debated the issue over the next 30 minutes when it was put to the floor. Louisburgh GAA Club’s John Gibbons said that at the beginning of the Monaghan game, he saw around 10 youngsters – all aged less than 16 – wanting to leave the game to get chips, and noted that they had 'as much interest in the game as a bird'.

He recommended that the county board secretary write to all club secretaries as many clubs aren’t aware of this.

John Farragher (Garrymore) pointed out that any child must pay to enter a cinema or swimming pool, and GAA matches should be no different. Kevin McDonnell (Kilmaine) said he had been a steward for the first three league games and unaccompanied minors are the issue.

Craig Middleton (Claremorris) said one section was 'like a zoo' and observed two different sets of kids throwing stuff around, and said one garda could not believe unaccompanied minors were allowed. He added that an allocation of free tickets online would be a solution.

Johnnie O’Malley (Ardnaree) said it was sad that a number of people are ruining it for genuine supporters with their parents. He also said that no one Under 18 should be on the pitch without being accompanied by an adult, and if a charge for minor is introduced, it is to be as small as possible. Mayo GAA chief steward Gerry Bourke (Breaffy) agreed with a call by Mike Connelly (Hollymount/Carramore) for more manpower at games, with 200 stewards required to keep people off the pitch.

On the pitch, he said the Mayo GAA treasurer had invested thousands of euro and damage to the pitch with hundreds of kids and adults running onto it could be irreparable to the growth and the surface.

As a steward, he added, there has been abuse from both adults and kids to people (stewards) who were just doing their jobs. “It’s time we have to call stop,” concluded Mr. Bourke.