'Vicious and nasty' - GAA President on alleged emails to Mayo GAA officers

The Mayo county board has announced that they will be liaising with An Gardá Síochána in the wake of a series of emails and correspondence from individuals referred to as ‘vicious and nasty’ by the President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns.

At Monday night's meeting of the Mayo GAA county board, which was attended by Burns, GAA Ard Stiurthoir Tom Ryan, and Connacht GAA CEO John Prenty, a series of emails sent to various members of the board from what was said to be ‘primarily one or two individuals’ by assistant secretary, Ronan Kirrane, were shown to attendees.

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One of these messages, apparently sent to chairperson Seamus Tuohy as a result of his absence from a county board meeting due to being in ill health in hospital at the time, read as follows.

“Your failure to turn up to the MCB meeting again tonight…. Show you are a lying coward. You had one job and you f****d it up big time again.”

Another message allegedly sent, read as follows: “ I am calling for you also to resign asap, you should enjoy your retirement and spend time with your loved ones…and of course focus on your health.

“The alternative is not going to be very pleasant - it is going to involve a public humiliation for you and certain legal action against you.”

Jarlath Burns spoke passionately and said: "There is a limit to what we can ask volunteers to do in the face of such bullying, intimidation and unjustified threats,” the GAA President stated before telling the gathering that he had received eight correspondences in the previous few hours he travelled to Knockranny House alone.

The meeting was called to offer clarity on the details of the financial situation between Mayo and the GAA relating to a series of loans taken out to redevelop MacHale Park.

Mick Duffy, from Kilmovee, tabled a vote of support for the County Board from the club members gathered in the Nephin Suite. The motion, which passed unanimously.