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In September 2005, the Wolfe Tones Club played rivals Sinn Fein in a challenge match at our training ground in Port Melbourne. The GAA of Victoria viewed this match as an unauthorised fixture and suspended both Clubs and their players for a 6 month period. The following year’s fixture was also changed so that the 2006 Championship was brought forward in order to exclude both Clubs. The Wolfe Tones Club appealed this decision to the Australasian Gaelic Football and Hurling Association stating that the GAA of Victoria had not followed the appropriate procedures. This appeal, even though it was 100% legitimate, was dismissed, leaving the Club with no choice but to seek arbitration through the DRA.
The DRA had been setup at congress the previous year to provide a vehicle through which a compromise could be found without pursuing legal alternatives. The Gaelic Football and Hurling Association of Australasia refused to enter any arbitration and sought to ratify their decision through the DRA. The DRA made a decision in favour of the Wolfe Tones Club and as such found their claim to be successful and awarded the costs of same to the Wolfe Tones Club. The DRA however indicated that the GAA of Victoria could revisit or reconsider the issue subject to the provisions in the Official Guide.
Subsequently the GAA of Victoria decided to hold another hearing into the matter. This hearing was attended by committee members and representatives of the Wolfe Tones Club. No decision was made at this hearing, however at a subsequent meeting, with an alleged quorum excluding many of the committee members present at the hearing, the committee decided to uphold its original decision from the previous year. Even though the original decision from the DRA was handed down in February, no changes to the fixtures were ever made leading up to the subsequent hearing in April.
The costs incurred by the Wolfe Tones GAC totalling approximately $5,000 have not been paid and have allegedly been misrepresented to Croke Park to be in the region of $20,000. The GAA of Victoria refuses to pay the costs even though approval to fight the case at the DRA was apparently given to the Gaelic Football and Hurling Association of Australasia; such permission seems to have been provided without the knowledge of the Committee. The Gaelic Football and Hurling Association of Australasia refuse recognise the authority of the DRA even though they sought to have their decision ratified by such. Obviously the Wolfe Tones Club is well within its rights and is still seeking payment for the expenses incurred. The matter is not over yet!!
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| DRA Decision | Wolfe Tones GAC -v- Gerard Roe & Gaelic Football & Hurling Assocation of Australasia | 45.57 | Download |
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