The High Court has cleared the way for the GAA to hold a disciplinary hearing later today involving three members of Limerick University's hurling club, including a Clare senior hurler, over the alleged illegal participation of a player in a third- level hurling game last March.
Mr Justice Thomas Smyth yesterday granted an application by the GAA to discharge a temporary injunction restraining the hearing. However, there may be an application to the Supreme Court later today to reinstate the injunction pending a possible appeal.
The temporary injunction was secured last Tuesday by Dr Peter Tiernan, chairman, Brendan Bugler, secretary, and player Kieran Joyce of the University of Limerick's hurling club.
It was granted on an ex parte basis (one side only represented) by Mr Justice Vivian Lavan and stopped a GAA hearings committee from holding a hearing over Mr Joyce's participation in the Colleges Intermediate Hurling Final last March. That hearing was due to take place at Croke Park last Tuesday night and could have resulted in 12-week suspensions from GAA activities being imposed.
Brendan Bugler is a member of the Clare senior hurling team, which is due to play Galway in an All- Ireland Hurling qualifier this weekend.