Explosive fallout from revelation of stream of emails to Mayo GAA

ON Monday night a series of bombshell emails described as ‘vicious and nasty’ by Jarlath Burns sent to multiple members of the Mayo GAA County Board were revealed. County Board secretary, Ronan Kirrane brought the delegates through a series of the messages, which were displayed on a big screen at the front of the room.

The emails, which included the labelling of County Board chairman Seamus Tuohy as ‘a lying coward’ and telling another member that ‘all your friends and family will turn their backs on you.’

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In the wake of the emails being brought into the public eye, there was plenty of reaction from those at the head of the room and the club delegates on the floor.

First to comment on the messages was the President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns.

“The level of threat, intimidation, and toxic activity has gone way beyond what is normal for disgruntled and angry people,” he said.

“In a few years' time, you won't have those people at the top table. Those five-year rulings, they're going to be gone. We're going to be relying on the next batch of leaders to come from you, the people in this room tonight.

“You are Mayo GAA. Who in this room would want to take over this handling in the knowledge that the day you take over, you could very well get your first email? And by the end of the week, you get beyond your 50th email.”

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Burns also addressed those who were communicating with those allegedly behind these emails, details which were not reported to the media.

“I would just ask anybody who is reporting back, in light of what Ronan (Kirrane) has given a snapshot of here tonight, if you could just examine your conscience.

“Just reflect and think, ‘What is my role in this?’ If I am on the side of people who would be so vicious and nasty and bullying and intimidating and threatening.”

First to address the board was John Farragher from Garrymore GAA, who commented on an email to Burns which threatened to report that five Dublin-based Mayo players were allegedly living in accommodation in an area zoned for commercial activity. Farragher said the eviction of the players went against everything the GAA stood for.

“I’m horrified with what I have seen here. Actually, one of the players is from my club, and the chairman here beside me is his uncle. It was terrible what happened to those lads. It's uncalled for. They’re young lads starting out in life. Enda (Hession) is an ambassador for our club. He's always willing to help and promote football and underage within the club.”

Farragher also asked the board if the matter regarding the abusive emails was being handed over to An Garda Síochána. He was told that statements were being given and that the board was seeking legal advice.

Jarlath Burns also spoke of a conversation he had with former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who at one stage was mentioned in the emails in question.

"Regardless of anybody's politics, I know that people of Mayo and I, as a GAA person, am extremely proud of Enda Kenny."

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“I think the way in which Enda Kenny's name was brought into this here was very, very unfortunate as well. I've already discussed it. And Enda was very worried by it too.

“Enda really appreciated the call from me. We spoke at length about it. And he appreciates that now we are fighting back against this narrative.”

Next up was John Gibbons from Louisburgh. John asked for clarification on whether an unnamed individual who doesn’t live in the country ever given ‘a certain amount of money to Mayo GAA.’

Chairman Seamus Tuohy and Mayo GAA Treasurer Valerie Murphy confirmed that ‘some money was given to Mayo GAA’ in 2015/16.

“As far as I'm concerned, that's where all this problem started,” said Gibbons. “At that banquet they had in America, when they put on these tuxedos and made announcements about how things were going to get much better. Well, by God, they haven't.”

The third representative to raise their hand was Michael Gallagher from Ballycroy who said he had great sympathy for those receiving any abuse.

“At four o’clock in the morning when you’re lying in bed and these messages are in your head, you feel very lonely and isolated,” he said on the series of emails which have been sent around.

“I know people that it has affected tremendously, they have nearly walked away from more than the GAA.”

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Gallagher also moved to label the story of the five Mayo Senior Men’s footballers who were removed from their living quarters in Dublin as ‘pathetic.’

Next on the microphone was Donal Walsh, Chairman of South Mayo GAA. “I’m so glad everything came to light tonight. Every email that is being sent to everyone at the top table is being sent to all of us. Let's just stick together, just ignore this muppet and his team. Whoever he is.”

Pat Freyne from Tooreen asked the executive what they needed from the nearly 150 club delegates in the meeting.

Seamus Tuohy was the first to respond and said the business of Mayo GAA was constantly being leaked to members of the public. 

“As Jarlath (Burns) already said, there has been communications from within this room. They must stop immediately. You can see for yourself how it is destroying our county, destroying your officers. Don't give those individuals any option whatsoever. They are not any part of Mayo. They have nothing to do with Mayo. They are not Mayo supporters. They were never Mayo supporters. There are great clubs within this county, great progress in the development facilities, et cetera, without any of this money.

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“So, I appeal to everyone here within this room tonight, any communication with any of those individuals just stops. Or if it doesn't, it will continue to destroy the association within this county. You will not have volunteers that will stand up and take those positions.”

When asked for an example of information leaking from internal communications it was revealed that an email was sent out explicitly to club representatives at 5.44pm on Thursday, May 22, informing them of Monday night's meeting, and by 7pm that evening, Mayo GAA had received an email from an unnamed person regarding the gathering.

Ger McNulty, from Burrishoole, encouraged those who were being ‘intimidated’ to speak up to the County Board.

John Holian, from Balla, spoke of how this issue of leaking information to particular individuals had been a long-standing one, labelling a person ‘deciding to leak to this particular individual’ as a ‘scoundrel.’

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

Up next was Kevin McDonald from Kilmaine who challenged the senders of the emails to reveal any evidence of wrongdoing they possessed.

“If you’ve got something, take action; if not, stay quiet … put up now or shut up.

“The naivety of some of these people is quite frankly frightening, in fact, I’ll change naivety, I’ll go stupidity.”

Former chairman Mike Connelly spoke on his time involved in the upper echelons of the county board, and how the revelations unearthed at Monday's meeting could potentially ward others off from stepping into the void when the current board departs.

“I’m gone nearly five years,” said Connelly. “You go to a county board meeting and you say, ‘Do I really need this?

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"Any person that has an ambition of being on a board and becoming an officer on the board, you know, they have to question themselves, do they need this? Because it can have a serious impact on mental health.”

Connelly also addressed the members of Central Council directly, asking why more games cannot be played in MacHale Park, presumably referring to ‘neutral venue’ games in the All-Ireland Series.

Tom Ryan responded that a myriad of factors were at play in the selection of venues for fixtures.

“MacHale Park is able to hold its head high in all respects, and it doesn't need to be favoured because of its particular financial challenges or status.”

Padraic Staunton, from Moygownagh, questioned if there was a link between the individuals sending the emails to Mayo GAA.

“What is their agenda? Obviously, it's not for the betterment of Mayo football. It's a distraction of the highest order.”

John Prenty, CEO of Connacht GAA, urged caution in dealing with this sensitive issue.

“We're dealing with people who think in a different way than GAA people. There's nothing off the table. Everything is possible with those people.”

Alan Heaney, from Swinford GAA, advised the county board to ‘protect yourself with total transparency.’ Heaney also advised ‘driving values, standards and behaviours.’

“That means everyone on the executive is living, walking, talking and a perfect example. If we don't have that, this is going to drop into the clubs.”

The last words of the meeting fell to John O’Malley from Ardnaree, who asked any delegate leaking information to desist immediately.

“Please reflect on what you're doing, because this poison is what will bring us down.

“It will stop people stepping forward. It will undermine what has been there for hundreds of years. That ethos, Níl Neart Go Chuir Le Chéile. Be careful about what you're at. God bless.”