Courts / Ireland / Report

Court reserves decision on GAA coach's application to quash finding that he is a risk to children

Summary

The High Court will decide later whether to allow a GAA coach to challenge a 2013 finding by the Child and Family Agency (CFA) that he poses a risk to children. The coach, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies allegations that he sexually abused a girl aged six to sixteen and has appealed the CFA's finding. He has stopped coaching minors voluntarily and argues the investigation was fundamentally flawed, citing that a social worker did not interview the complainant and that the CFA failed to disclose full information. The coach seeks to have the CFA's finding quashed and to halt further investigation into the complaints. The CFA maintains that the appeal should proceed and that it would inform relevant third parties of a risk finding even after an appeal. Judge Richard Humphreys has reserved his decision on the application.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court reserves decision on GAA coach's application to quash finding that he is a risk to children. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• 1979 and 1989 Incident
• 2015-12-09 Publication

Why: In reply to a question from the judge, a solicitor for the CFA said it did not inform any third party such as the GAA of its 2013 finding against the man because he appealed the decision. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal

Read the original CNI report