GAA respond to criticism

The GAA yesterday answered criticism of their failure to postpone matches at Croke Park last weekend and next weekend. In a statement they point out what has already been done to express their condolences to the bereaved and injured and their families and say that the Omagh tragedy will also be acknowledged and remembered with dignity at next weekend's games.

The statement said: "The GAA again wishes to extend its condolences and sympathy to the bereaved and injured in Omagh last Saturday. As a mark of respect and sympathy, the GAA flew its flags at half mast and had a minute's silence at the All-Ireland hurling semi-final in Croke Park on Sunday last.

"The director general of the GAA, Liam Mulvihill, has already been to Tyrone and Joe McDonagh, president of the GAA, will be meeting as many as possible of the bereaved families and attending funerals over the next few days. The Omagh tragedy will also be acknowledged and remembered with dignity at next week's games."

Sources close to the GAA have pointed out that the postponement of last week's All Ireland semi-final between Kilkenny and Waterford would have been virtually impossible from a logistical point of view.

When the bomb went off the Central Council of the GAA was meeting in Croke Park and the delegates left immediately afterwards and most did not become aware of what had happened until much later.

By that stage some of the teams and many of the supporters were already on their way to Croke Park. The Galway minor team had arrived at their Dublin hotel and scores of Waterford and Kilkenny supporters were already in Dublin.

Everything was in place for the match which attracted more than 50,000. Arrangements for gardai, stewards, television coverage of the match, catering, ticketing and other matters central to such a huge undertaking, were all in place and a postponement was deemed "not feasible".

The Derry and Tyrone county boards, whose senior and minor footballers are due to meet Galway and Leitrim, respectively, next Sunday have indicated that they want the matches to go ahead. Acknowledgement of the tragedy will be marked by both teams.

A Tyrone County Board spokesman has said that the board decided that it would be best if their match went ahead and it is believed that the Derry board was of the same opinion.