GAA president expresses confidence in CCCC investigation of Davey Byrne incident

GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail has declared that “every game is governed by the same rules” and expressed his confidence in the investigation only now opened to examine the incident that left Dublin footballer Davey Byrne with extensive facial injuries after an in-house challenge against Armagh almost two weeks ago.

Ó Fearghail – speaking at a hurling championship event in Kilkenny earlier today – confirmed that the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) had now requested further information on the incident from both the Dublin and Armagh management, despite reports last week that the GAA had nothing to go on.

“I think every game that is played, whether it is an All-Ireland final or a parish game, a club game, a challenge game or whatever, is governed by the same rules,” said Ó Fearghail. “And every game is governed by the same principles.

“Now, when incidents happen at any game, I don’t interfere with the day to day running of how games are organised. But I certainly have a view that every game has to be followed by the same rules, the same principles. And when an incident occurs, if it occurs, it should be investigated in the exact same way for all games, no difference.”

It is now expected that Dublin manager Jim Gavin will be asked to provide information on the identity of the Armagh player who reportedly struck Byrne, and further details of the incident which resulted in the Dublin player requiring hospital treatment for two days. However, Ó Fearghail declined to say where exactly the investigation was at, or indeed likely to go.

“I don’t know that, I don’t interfere in day to day work of CCCC,” he said. “I appoint them, I expect them to follow our rules and I expect them to implement our regulations so I honestly do not know. But I certainly know, and again I would be adamant about that, that every game has to be treated in the same way.

“You can’t have local arrangements, and you can’t have a situation where something happens, and we think it happened, we’re not sure it happened. I wouldn’t have. I think our system is quite strong on the principles of investigative procedures and I expect it to happen.”

It is understood that the CCCC have already looked at video footage of the game, although that does not capture the incident: nor was any reference made in the report of the match referee.

In a media conference before last weekend’s Leinster football final, the Dublin manager said repeatedly that Byrne and his Armagh opponent had spoken after the match and were anxious to move on with their careers. However, it now appears Gavin will have to explain the incident in an official capacity before the CCCC.