Police in Derry have admitted they were wrong to tell a Derry teenager that his hurley was an "offensive weapon". The PSNI in Derry have written to GAA president Christy Cooney to acknowledge their mistake in telling 14 year-old Aaron Griggin that he could be arrested for possession of the hurley. It has also emerged that PSNI stations across the North are to be issued with guidelines stating that, under normal circumstances, officers should not consider hurleys to be offensive weapons. And it's understood that the officer who approached the youngster as he played with friends close to his Strathfoyle home last month is to be disciplined over the matter. The father of the Derry U-14 County development squad player and Na Magha club member said last night that he was "over the moon" with the outcome. Anthony 'Doot' Griffin - who himself received suspended prison sentence for possession of a hurley at Celtic Park many years ago - said he feared his son faced the same fate. "When this happened a few weeks ago it brought me back. I was training when police came up and arrested me and trailed me across the park. I didn't want that happening to my son or his friends. "With the help of Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson, who took our son's case to the PSNI and police ombudsman, we have had a fantastic result. The police have put it in a letter that our son was doing nothing wrong." Ms Anderson said last night, "This is a very welcome resolution. The incident was wrong but it is important that the police have acknowledged that mistake and made an effort to resolve the matter - that's what we mean by effective and responsible policing."

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 24/07/2009 10:42:28    359781

Depends who is holding it?

Fredthered (Donegal) - Posts: 1144 - 24/07/2009 11:05:03    359824

different situations call for different actions, if they are playing hurling or training with a hurley fair enough its sports equipment and no actions are at all called for, but if you see a gang of youths or adults walking around the streets with hurleys then they could be classed as an offensive weapon. Just a comparison do you see the authorities invading a clay pigeon shoot saying the weapons used are an offensive weapon, it all depends on how the equipment is used.

ronburgundy (Mayo) - Posts: 40 - 24/07/2009 11:16:14    359837

In the hands of King Henry, Prince Joe or Eoin Kelly it can be a very offensive weapon.

In the hands of JJ Delaney, the Rock or Brian Lohan it is most definitely a defensive weapon!

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 24/07/2009 11:21:50    359846

Tom

Thank you for bringing this to the attention of Hogan Stand. This only serves to increase my admiration for all players of hurling and Gaelic football in the occupied six over the last 90 years. There was never any publicity granted to these incursions of their rights or apologies offered.

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 24/07/2009 11:42:40    359876

Having played against Na Magha on many occassions, very rarely leaving with the teeth i landed with, it's great to see this brough to the attention of everyone on here!

Bald Eagle (None) - Posts: 1009 - 24/07/2009 11:48:25    359890

That's a disgrace, have the PSNI no sense - I thought that they now have their own GAA teams. Obviously this particular policeman is not a fan of the great game.

jos33 (Dublin) - Posts: 243 - 24/07/2009 11:48:45    359891

thats a joke

lowerormond (Tipperary) - Posts: 1267 - 24/07/2009 11:50:53    359899

Translink are no better, i was asked to put my hurl in my bag before allowed onto the train in Coleraine....

bosch (Derry) - Posts: 873 - 24/07/2009 11:57:52    359909

It is if you sharpen it!

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 24/07/2009 11:58:06    359910

derryman
County: Derry
Posts: 621

359876 Tom

Thank you for bringing this to the attention of Hogan Stand. This only serves to increase my admiration for all players of hurling and Gaelic football in the occupied six over the last 90 years. There was never any publicity granted to these incursions of their rights or apologies offered.


Yamnnnn Everyone is against us Yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn isnt Ulster Brilliant Yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 24/07/2009 12:00:10    359918

It is difficult not to notice that full comprehension of the matter is escaping some posters.

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 24/07/2009 12:02:05    359922

Dubinmeath
County: Dublin
Posts: 1102

359846 In the hands of King Henry, Prince Joe or Eoin Kelly it can be a very offensive weapon.

In the hands of JJ Delaney, the Rock or Brian Lohan it is most definitely a defensive weapon!

Ha,im impressed dubinmeath

beer baron (Cavan) - Posts: 3916 - 24/07/2009 12:03:41    359925

RUC or whatever they call themselves these days know well what they are doing when they harrass Irish people with hurling sticks. Doesn't say much for the new political dispensation I have to say that this sort of nonsense is still going on.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 24/07/2009 12:04:59    359928

so bald eagle ye played against US then (me being a na magha man). i remember when this came about, and frankly wasnt too shocked to read it, maybe due to the fact that i am just old enough to remember the OLD REGIME of the ruc which didnt take kindly to anything irish at all. and in response to the poster from mayo i agree totally about the clay pigeons and all that but the fact remains that up in these parts, not that long ago, if ye were seen with a hurl in yer hands ye got one of 2 things
1 lifted into the back of a landrover giving a kicking and brought before the courts
2 lifted into the back of the landrover giving a kicking and let out.
obviously the latter was preferred because the courts never really worried about small things like the law or rights in such cases

pig.ignorant (Derry) - Posts: 655 - 24/07/2009 12:12:35    359950

They should be beat with the hurleys

Mick14 (Limerick) - Posts: 766 - 24/07/2009 12:21:18    359977

Small leson in geography for you Paddy. I didnt mention Ulster as the occupied six do not constitute the province of Ulster. Ihave not now or ever stated ulster were better , different or discriminated against. But unfortunately you are typical of too many peaople on this Island and that is why this problem is not going away.

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 24/07/2009 12:23:52    359986

Is this harassment the reason hurling isnt very popular in ulster? it would explain alot

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4649 - 24/07/2009 12:31:15    360007

'Yamnnnn Everyone is against us Yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn isnt Ulster Brilliant Yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn '

So Kenneth/Trevor/Nigel/Glenn, why would the blue geansai's in mayo worry about a hurling stick especially in the middle of the cricket season!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 24/07/2009 12:35:54    360019

Bad Monkey

The harassment was not confined to Hurling or even Gaelic games.

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 24/07/2009 12:37:08    360022