Rival fans to be kept apart in Castlebar on Saturday
FOOTBALL NEWS
Daniel Carey
STRINGENT security measures are being introduced at McHale Park ahead of Galway’s visit to Castlebar on Sunday, as Mayo officials crack down on ‘unacceptable’ behaviour by fans.
Most supporters will already be aware that Mayo County Board have decided to install video cameras at the ground following their €5,000 fine after a wooden spoon was thrown at Kerry star Kieran Donaghy.
But The Mayo News understands that the cameras are just one of a series of measures to be introduced at the ground ahead of Mayo’s meeting with their old rivals. Airport-style security screening is to be put in place in front of An Sportlann, and a list of prohibited items will be posted outside the ground. Ironically, this ‘blacklist’ will include video cameras, along with umbrellas, air horns and – most controversially – hanging banners, signs, sticks and poles.
“We’re not being unreasonable here,” argued one Mayo County Board official, who was quoted on condition of anonymity. “Spectators can still wear the county jersey and bring flags – as long as they’re not attached to flag-poles. We’re appealing to everybody to arrive early.”
The security measures – slammed as ‘draconian’ by supporters’ organisations that have sprouted up in both counties to fight the changes – will also mean that, for the first time at a Gaelic football match, fans of the two competing teams are to be kept apart.
“This is ludicrous,” commented a member of Mayo Supporters Against Segregating Supporters (MASS). “In the history of the GAA, there has never been a major outbreak of violence between opposing fans. It was bad form that objects were thrown at Kerry players the last day, but this is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”
But stung by the incidents at Mayo’s last league game, and the head butt on Monaghan’s Tommy Freeman by a Dublin official, the GAA have decided to instigate a colour-coded ‘alert’ scheme of the kind used by the Department of Homeland Security in the United States.
“The GAA have designated the Mayo-Galway game a ‘code orange’,” said a GAA spokesman. “That means it’s considered a ‘high risk’ game, so the two sets of fans will be seated in different parts of the ground.”
Officials are also reserving the right to strip-search supporters who trigger the metal detectors, which are to be installed over the coming days. This has outraged Galwegians, who believe they will be disproportionately targeted by Mayo security officials. A secret meeting in Tuam has led to the founding of an organisation called Galway Raging Over Strip Searches (GROSS).
“This proposal is totally impractical,” said a GROSS spokesman. “Expecting people to queue for half an hour or more will cause total chaos. And sure, wasn’t it a wooden spoon that caused all the trouble? That wouldn’t even show up on a metal detector!”
The GAA is also believed to have contacted the Army with a view to having a ‘rapid reaction force’ ready to deploy in McHale Park should trouble arise on Sunday.
The Army are already on stand-by for trouble in border areas, and retina scanners are expected to be erected at the bridge in Shrule later today (Tuesday).
(Tuesday April fools day)
