GAA deny threat to game

THE GAA have strongly denied claims by a residents' group that there is a threat to; the staging of next month's American Bowl football match between the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

GAA PRO Danny Lynch said last night that the matter is "entirely clearcut" and that the organisation is acting within the conditions set out by An Bord Pleanala in staging the game which is scheduled to take place at the stadium on Sunday, July 27th.

The Districts Of Croke Park Residents Rights Group (DCPRRG), a single issue umbrella body representing several of the local residents' groups, argues, however, that the three `special events' allowed annually under the terms of the planning permission for the redevelopment of Croke Park, were accounted for with the three Garth Brooks concerts staged at the venue last month. DCPRRG maintain that the American football match constitutes a fourth special event which should, therefore, be prohibited.

"If it comes down to a question of legal interpretations then so be it, but we believe that the legal advice we have is irrefutable. American football matches were not counted by Bord Pleanala as special events when they granted the planning permission, so we don't need permission from anyone to go ahead with this match," said Lynch.

This view is strongly disputed by representatives of DCPRRG, who point out that in its early submissions to Dublin Corporation regarding the application for planning permission, the GAA itself specifically referred to American football matches as special events on a number of occasions.

The group concedes that this reference was not adopted by An Bord Pleanala - which Lynch points to as the key point - when it ruled on an appeal of Dublin Corporation's decision to grant permission for the redevelopment. However, they feel the term used to define `special events' was deliberately broad, as the intention was still to tightly restrict the use of the ground.

Dublin Corporation's planning department did require the GAA to seek planning permission, which they granted, for the game which they would not have to do if the game were not considered a `special event' but this appears to have been a precaution pending the receipt of a firm legal opinion. That opinion is expected today.

In the meantime, DCPRRG are preparing to lodge an appeal with Bord Pleanala on Tuesday against the Corporation's decision to grant permission. "The fact that they made the GAA apply for planning permission means they felt it was a `special event'," says one of the group's representatives, Michael Nugent.