GAA President Sean Kelly has been openly criticised by a leading member of the judiciary, who believes the Association is too tolerant of on-field violence. Speaking at Tullamore District Court, the outspoken Judge John Neilan said he was dismayed to hear Kelly commend those involved in the second International Rules test after "commentators the length and breadth of Ireland" had referred to the game as "thuggery". Judge Neilan said he was unconvinced that the President or his association were committed to trying to control the level of violence on our playing fields. The judge was imposing a five-year playing ban on Declan Kelly (25) from Tullamore, who had recently broken onto the Offaly senior football panel. Kelly was found guilty of knocking an opponent unconscious when kicking him on the head while he lay on the ground. When asked to reconsider the five-year ban, Judge Neilan refused to budge, saying he was not impressed by the GAA's apparent tolerance of violence on the pitch. Tweet

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