A GAA club could be sanctioned by Croke Park over its support for a campaign against a Direct Provision Centre in Co. Leitrim.

Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s GAA club declared its support via Facebook last month for a statement issued by the Ballinamore Community Group in which it reiterated its opposition to the possibility of 130 refugees moving to the town under the Direct Provision scheme. The statement also condemned the attack on the home of local TD Martin Kenny and outlined its opposition to “any type of criminality or hatred”.

“Ballinamore GAA endorses and stands behind the statement issued today (October 30) by the Ballinamore Community Group,” the club’s Facebook post read.

The post prompted a club member, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, to write a letter to GAA president John Horan urging him to investigate the matter.

In the letter, which was published in the Leitrim Observer, the writer claimed the involvement in party political questions could lead to a 24-week ban for the club.

“The constitution of the Association explicitly states ‘Party political questions shall not be discussed at its meetings and no committee, club, council or representative thereof shall take part, as such, in any party political movement. A penalty of up to 24 weeks suspension may be imposed for infringement.’

“This restriction applies to official endorsement or perceived bias on any one side in a political debate. This statement is a clear contempt of the laws of our Association.”

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