GAA awaits changes before deleting Rule 21

The GAA last night reiterated its commitment to lifting the membership ban on members of the British security forces - Rule 21 of the Association's Official Guide - but only after "closely monitoring" the proposed policing reforms in Northern Ireland. In a statement, Mr Joe McDonagh, president of the GAA, affirmed the pledge made at a special congress in May 1998 when members promised to delete the rule "when effective steps were taken to implement the amended structures and policing arrangements envisaged in the Good Friday peace agreement".

Mr McDonagh said this commitment was still in place and said he welcomed the announcement that the Patten recommendations would be implemented. He added that the GAA "would be closely monitoring the situation as it evolves".

The dropping of Rule 21 has been opposed in the past by strong nationalist elements within the GAA. However, relations between the British security forces and the GAA have improved, principally due to the redeployment of the army from its base on land requisitioned from the Crossmaglen Rangers club in south Armagh.

The Patten report argued that "the continued existence of this rule, in light of our recommendations, can only be a deterrent to the recruitment of Catholics, or a factor in separating those Catholics who do join the police from an important part of their culture". The Patten report said that the GAA "should repeal its Rule 21".

The GAA decided in principle to delete Rule 21 at the 1998 congress when representatives of the membership voted unanimously to do so, but only when steps were taken to alter the policing structures in the North.

This latest development means Rule 21 is likely to be on the agenda again at the GAA congress in April. Last December, Mr Sean McCague, the incoming president of the GAA, called on Ulster members of the GAA to take the lead in abolishing Rule 21 as soon as policing reforms took place.

He was addressing the Monaghan annual convention.