Naomh Colmcille have confirmed they will not be appealing the verdict of the Donegal Hearings Committee, who ruled that they forego home advantage in their adult games for the next 12 weeks.
Last Tuesday, Naomh Colmcille members met with the Hearings Committee in Ballybofey to contest a proposed eight-week club suspension that was put forward by the Donegal GAA Management Committee.
Naomh Colmcille was charged with staging ‘an unauthorised tournament’ at Pairc Colmcille in February. The club expressed ‘regret’ at being charged with any rule breach.
A fundraising tournament – organised by an external committee – was held in aid of Paul Dillon, a former player and coach at the club, who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
Paul Dillon. (North West Newspix)
While the Management Committee’s hands were tied and bound by the terms of the Official Guide, the Hearings Committee has plenary powers in determining sanctions.
The Hearings Committee, while agreeing that Naomh Colmcille were in breach of rules 5.1 (a) and 6.40, sanctioned the club with the loss of its home adult games for the next 12 weeks – a total of five games – and issued a fine of €500.
In a statement issued this morning, Naomh Colmcille said:
Tags:“Regarding the sanctions imposed against CLG Naomh Colmcille by the Hearings Committee following the alleged Breaches of Rules 5.1(a) and 6.40;
“The committee of CLG Naomh Colmcille wishes to indicate that it accepts both the findings of the Hearing Committee and the sanctions imposed against the club.“The committee of CLG Naomh Colmcille would like to express its regret that it was deemed necessary for the club to be charged with a breach of the said rules as it was never the intention to contravene any rules of the Association.
“In the interests of the club and the Dillon family we now wish to move forward and we consider this matter to be closed. We therefore will not be making any further comment.”
