Can you report an assault to the Guards if someone hit you during a GAA game?

Wanderer2010 · 25-08-2018 03:15PM #1

If two lads were laying into each other in the middle of town at 2am and there were a few Guards nearby, they would defuse the situation straight away by restraining them, possible arrests and charge with public disorder etc.
Yet I have been at many GAA matches where one guy can start pushing, kicking another guy or even throwing a few punches and it turns into a full-on assault and yet we don't see this as a crime..
How many times have the Guards at Croke Park just stood there and watched as two rival hurlers/footballers etc lay into each other viciously to the point of blood etc.
I know what people are going to say "Oh its part of the spirit of the match, man up etc etc", But just as a thought, if you were punched and kicked by a rival GAA player and your assault was all on camera, and presuming you didn't fight back, could you actually walk away, ring the Guards and say "ive been assaulted, and its on camera", and could the other guy be charged with assault?

Potential-Monke · 25-08-2018 03:19PM

Yes, you can. The Guards don't intervene in matches due to the nature of it, but if it became serious enough they would. It's like fighting in Ice Hockey, it's acceptable to a degree without intervention. But, there is nothing stopping you from making a complaint of assault after the fact, and it would have to be fully investigated.

Collie D · 25-08-2018 03:21PM

Quite a few cases of assault on the pitch have ended up in court.

I know a guy who went to prison for assaulting a ref in a soccer match.

Hector Bellend · 25-08-2018 03:26PM

Yes in theory.

A lot trickier in practice.

Probably easier just to punch them back

whisky_galore · 25-08-2018 03:33PM

It's 'de pashin'

Surprised there aren't more people looking up their solicitor afterwards, this being Compo Central for most other things.

Captain Obvious · 25-08-2018 03:37PM

Yes the Gardaí will investigate but any prosecution relating to a sporting encounter has to be directed by the DPP.

Donald Trump · 25-08-2018 03:38PM

Man up OP

Hector Bellend · 25-08-2018 03:39PM

whisky_galore wrote: »

It's 'de pashin'

Surprised there aren't more people looking up their solicitor afterwards, this being Compo Central for most other things.

For the pride of the parish of the royal rebel banner county

Donald Trump · 25-08-2018 03:41PM

Collie D wrote: »

Quite a few cases of assault on the pitch have ended up in court.

I know a guy who went to prison for assaulting a ref in a soccer match.

Proper order

Playing soccer should be evidence enough to justify any criminal conviction

Obviously not a productive member of society

25-08-2018 03:44PM

Oh its part of the spirit of the match, man up.

Pauliedragon · 25-08-2018 03:44PM

A few weeks ago over in Australia a guy broke a players jaw in Aussie rules with a punch and there was a big debate over whether the player should be charged by the cops. Nothing was done by police and their stance was they could only intervene if the victim made a formal complaint to them which he didn't. Not sure how it works here but it would open up a can of worms.

StupidLikeAFox · 25-08-2018 03:51PM

I know a lad who got into a fight in a leagle game and was arrested for it. Not sure how it panned out but he had a few days in court for sure

suicide_circus · 25-08-2018 03:52PM

JohnnyFlash · 25-08-2018 03:55PM

He hits you, you hit the ground, he gets the line, you get the free.

No need to be getting the Feds involved.

Wanderer2010 · 25-08-2018 03:57PM

Pauliedragon wrote: »

A few weeks ago over in Australia a guy broke a players jaw in Aussie rules with a punch and there was a big debate over whether the player should be charged by the cops. Nothing was done by police and their stance was they could only intervene if the victim made a formal complaint to them which he didn't. Not sure how it works here but it would open up a can of worms.

I cant speak for everyone but I would imagine there is a massive culture within GAA that whatever happens on the pitch stays on the pitch and any fights can be resolved with a pint afterwards but that's a very toxic viewpoint in my opinion. Its reinforced by old school GAA officials who no doubt would laugh heartily at the suggestion of reporting an assault, and many Guards are from that background too which only adds to the stigma of reporting on-field assaults. And Peer pressure would make it worse, with ribbing about being a "snowflake" keeping many lads quiet.
Personally if someone punched me or kicked me during a match and it was deliberate and premediated, im ringing the cops and making that complaint.

mynamejeff · 25-08-2018 04:01PM

contact sports probably are not for you ........

try COD

Wanderer2010 · 25-08-2018 04:08PM

mynamejeff wrote: »

contact sports probably are not for you ........

try COD

But do you think someone who assaults someone else in a contact sport should face no ramifications?

horseofstone · 25-08-2018 04:16PM

Former Down player james mccartan was brought before the court when he assaulted an opposing player in an intercounty match between Down and Westmeath in 2003.The player assaulted was a garda as it happens.mccartan was given the probation act when he payed a large sum of money to an organisation of the westmeath players choosing.So yes these situations can finish up in court.

mynamejeff · 25-08-2018 04:23PM

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

But do you think someone who assaults someone else in a contact sport should face no ramifications?

yes i do they should be banned from participating the that sport for a period of time

i ve played Gaa soccer and rugby and i ve seen many cases of what i would call foul play. and even fights in the car park after games (which would be a assault )

take the contact and rough play out of games and and you lose the learning side of sport.
punish fouls by all means but inside the game

25-08-2018 05:44PM

Not the GAA, not even Ireland for that matter, but Duncan Ferguson "Duncan Disorderly" was sentenced and served three months for head butting an opposition player when he was with Glasgow Rangers.

selectamatic · 25-08-2018 05:55PM

Pauliedragon wrote: »

A few weeks ago over in Australia a guy broke a players jaw in Aussie rules with a punch and there was a big debate over whether the player should be charged by the cops. Nothing was done by police and their stance was they could only intervene if the victim made a formal complaint to them which he didn't. Not sure how it works here but it would open up a can of worms.

I have heard of a local enough case where a full back broke the opposition full forward's jaw in a completely unprovoked scenario. Simply hit him a punch from behind when play was nowhere near them. There was a case brought against him and it was settled out of court.

In general there will be provocation met with retaliation in most "assault" incidents which happen during a game with the result that most are chalked down to being part of the game.

Are Am Eye · 25-08-2018 06:06PM

There was a fella who stole a few yards on a free kick one time.
Did community service on it.

robbiezero · 25-08-2018 06:31PM

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

I cant speak for everyone but I would imagine there is a massive culture within GAA that whatever happens on the pitch stays on the pitch and any fights can be resolved with a pint afterwards but that's a very toxic viewpoint in my opinion. Its reinforced by old school GAA officials who no doubt would laugh heartily at the suggestion of reporting an assault, and many Guards are from that background too which only adds to the stigma of reporting on-field assaults. And Peer pressure would make it worse, with ribbing about being a "snowflake" keeping many lads quiet.
Personally if someone punched me or kicked me during a match and it was deliberate and premediated, im ringing the cops and making that complaint.

Hardly unique to the GAA.

Can you report an assault to the Guards if someone hit you during a GAA game?

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