Muskerry Judo Club seeks end of suspension over Facebook comments

A judo club has brought a High Court challenge against its suspension by the sport’s national governing body over comments posted on Facebook.

Muskerry Judo Club in Macroom, Co Cork, was suspended by the Irish Judo Association for six months after comments on the club’s Facebook page criticised the decision not to include one of its members in the team that took part in the World Judo Championships in Brazil.

The club says the suspension could lead to its closure and that its 70 members may abandon the sport as a result.

The comments at the centre of the action were made after club member Lloyd Manning was not selected for the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro at the end of August and early September. Mr Manning, the club says, is the only male full-time and No 1-ranked Irish judo player in the 73kg class.

A club official posted a question on Facebook asking why the association selected the No 2 and No 3 judo players in this class instead. Many of the comments on the thread expressed anger and disappointment at the decision.

On September 24th, the club was told the association’s executive committee had decided to suspend it. The association said this was necessary so it could protect its members and control the behaviour of its members and clubs.

Natural justice
Yesterday barrister John O'Callaghan BL, for the club, said his client was denied natural justice and fair procedures because the suspension was imposed before the club could put reply to the case against it. This, he added, breached the association's own rules.

Mr Justice Paul Butler granted the club, on an ex-parte basis, permission to bring the action. The matter was adjourned to next Thursday.