THE Football Association of Ireland believes the remaining civil actions over the Lansdowne Road riot will be settled out of court.
An out-of-court settlement agreed yesterday in the case of five men was not made public. The awards are between £5,000 and £30,000 - the limits for damages in the Circuit Civil Court.
"Today's Tuesday settlement covers any subsequent claims," a spokesman for the FAI said last night.
The five cases were settled after three hours discussion before the case was due to open in the Circuit Court.
The spokesman said the remaining litigants could lodge claims with their solicitors and the damages agreed yesterday would form the basis for settlements.
The FAI would not confirm the number of people suing it over the riot during the Ireland versus England soccer international in February 1995, but it is understood that there are around 30 more litigants.
In yesterday's case, the Garda and England's Football Association were also being sued for damages. It is understood the settlements will not be divided evenly between the Garda, the FAI and the FA.
The FAI's chief executive, Mr Bernard O'Byrne, said a "formula" had been agreed for dealing with the remaining cases. "We are fully covered by insurance anyway. These amounts are not coming out of our own coffers.
The men's solicitor, Mr Mark Fitzgibbon, said his clients were "very happy with the outcome".
The costs will be assessed by the Taxing Master if the two sides fail to agree.
An inquiry into the riot by the former Chief Justice, Mr Thomas Finlay, found there were too few gardai on duty in the stadium. The Finlay report, published in April 1995, said information passed to gardai identifying likely trouble- makers, was not adequately communicated to the FAI.
The report criticised the FAI for reselling returned tickets which led to Irish fans being seated alongside English fans. It said the radio communication of gardai and the FAI stewards was insufficient.
