LIMERICK GAA chiefs have handed down a 96-week ban to Martin Stokes, the Dromcollogher-Broadford supporter who was involved in an altercation with Newcastlewest forward James Kelly towards the end of last Sunday’s county senior football final in the Gaelic Grounds.
The Limerick Leader newspaper have reported that at last night’s meeting of Limerick GAA’s Competitions Control Committee (CCC) the maximum ban of 96 weeks was imposed on Stokes in the aftermath of an incident that overshadowed the drawn game.
The CCC reviewed the report of referee Richard Moloney from Bruff as well as photographs of the incident in question.
Kelly had just been sent-off after being shown a second yellow card by the referee when the altercation occurred and he appeared to be struck by the supporter.
The play continued while the incident occurred with Dromcollogher-Broadford taking a quick free that had been awarded after Kelly was fouled and they set in motion a move that culminated with their attacker Micheál Reidy firing over the point that ensured the teams were tied at the final whistle.
No other suspensions were handed down by the CCC with attention now set to switch to next Friday’s replay between the sides in the Gaelic Grounds at 7.15pm.
96 weeks? Should be a lifetime ban for going on the pitch also the GAA will never enforce this ban so don’t be surprised to see the “fan” in a GAA stadium soon
Also when you compare this to the leeds fan who done the exact same, the leeds fan is banned for life and got 4 months in prison.
The gardai will only treat it as assault if they get a complaint from the victim.
Don’t mind them Jason, as soon as you mention the red thumbers you get a load so red thumbs. Cue the red thumbers for this one (sigh).
Agreed, 96 weeks looks a lot but it isn’t
No reply button on your second comment.
That Leeds fan was banned for life from every stadium about 5-6 years ago and still got in to bitch slap the goalie. Obviously the ban isn’t working. Longer prison sentence for Leeds fella and the GAA “fan” should so some time aswell
Lifetime ban should be in order or something like 10 years,
It needs to be seen that acting like this muppet doesn’t get you anywhere!
Typical gaa after all the appeal process it will be reduced to the day before the next match it’s the stuff that hardy bucks tv is made of.
does this not constitute assault? Surely there should be some legal action taken against this “fan”
He is not a GAA supporter he is a thug. I’m sure there was plenty of kids at this game. He should have got a life time ban.
Cormac. The worst bit is. He is the father of the former limerick midfielder Jason Stokes. And he got involved himself. By punching the player from behind.
I agree the ban should be longer. I’d even say he should have any membership of the GAA revoked. Not to mention criminal charges. GAA must protect players and officials. Using the law is one way.
Should have been life.
What a pathetic response to an assault from the gombeen cowards in the GAA. Desperate stuff.
96 week ban who is going to enforce it the GAA I don’t think so
That ban is useless it will never be enforced. Few months in limerick prison might change his behaviour though.
Why isn’t the DPP having a look at this? If there are criminal charges made then any decisions by the GAA could be seen a prejudicial.
This won’t go any further. The GAA people will close ranks, as always.
Come on. You cant have a GAA match without some sort of punch up. It wouldn’t be the same. Extra entertainment to keep ticket prices high.
( Yes i am trolling)
This kind of thing happens all too often in the GAA. It’s often the spectators that exacerbate problems on the pitch leading to mass brawls.
Wishing this read 96 weeks in Mountjoy
So it means he can still turn up at his local soccer , rugby or any club and do the same . Not sure the local cricket club will be happy with him turning up lol
Id say the local cricket club would be happy if anyone turned up haha
This demonstrates the value system of the GAA – keep the fan happy and the players and refs are irrelevant. Of course the players have a shorter shelf life so the return for their money is better spent keeping the fans.
Real Irish – after Hillsborough the police knew the dangers of proper crowd control. Somebody will be killed at a GAA match very soon as a result of the violence and crowd control. Kids are very vulnerable at these games. This thug could easily have started a bigger problem and yet the GAA let it happen most weeks.
‘Let it happen most weeks’
Really? How many games have you been at where there has been crowd trouble?
There is certainly an issue to be address and this idiot should have got a life time ban, but how exactly does that get imposed?? Send a photo fit around to every club in the country and keep an eye out for him?
Can never get over the amount of negativity towards GAA as an organisation whenever there is bad publicity. Seems to be all the rage.
A Stokes from Limerick. Think that just about answers all my questions
It was a father and son double act. While the father (Martin Stokes) was thumping the Newcastlewest player. His son Jason (former limerick midfielder) thumped him from behind.
The sad part is that the tool most likely thinks he did no wrong.
Leave it blaydin ou
Scotland no different hearts fan went on to the pitch assaulted Lennon jury must have been Huns got off . Leeds fan done same got 4 months
96 weeks should be 96 years! This thug seems like a grandfather who brought a great shame to a beautiful game…..
Can anyone explain why it was 96 weeks (specifically) and not two years? Seems like a peculiar number to pluck out of the sky…
96 is the number of counties in Ireland, multiplied by three.
Since the GAA didn’t call the police to complain of a criminal assault on their property of which they has photographic evidence and subsequently investigated that assault and handed down a judgement and sentence we now ask;
Do the GAA believe they are above the Law of the land?
Do the GAA believe they can act instead of the Law of the land?
Are our children safe in an environment where the GAA do not engage with the Gardai when a criminal assault has taken place on their property?
What is the difference between this non reporting of criminal behaviour and the Church not reporting other forms of assault?
Paddy, the answers to your questions are as follows; yes, yes, no and none.
Common sense should dictate that the GAA should make a complaint, and as you correctly stated, why haven’t they?
He should be made hand wash the players sports “cup” and boots for 96weeks
Banana republic.
Do the Garda need any more evidence and there is possibly an assault case pending by the Garda. If not – Why ?? They always say they don’t have enough evidence so here it is in spades. Maybe they they expect a complaint before they act ? If that is the case then we as a country are in trouble and a lot of people will be assaulted and will not complain out of fear of retaliation.
Anything goes on a GAA pitch, Kerry seems to be particularly bad at the moment. As you suggest, victims of assault will not lodge a complaint as they are afraid of being seen as disloyal to the GAA fraternity.
I love hurling and think the GAA have a serious problem which needs addressing quickly. They have a brilliant structure and great facilities which are the envy of other sports in Ireland. The violence is a real threat to support from families. I hope they sort it out as now is a stressful time for people and if sporting events are too add more stress it ruins it.
96 weeks, does that mean he’ll be OK to give someone a puck in the head in Croker at the 2013 All-Ireland?
Oops, 2014 I should say.