Derrytresk GAA club cancels event over PSNI involvement

A Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) club has called off an event after some members objected to the involvement of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The Live to Play events were organised to educate young GAA members about road safety after a number of fatal crashes.

They have been seen as a sign of an improving relationship between the GAA and the police.

But the Derrytresk GAA club in County Tyrone said it had cancelled the event following complaints from some members.

In an interview with the <link> <caption>Irish News</caption> <url href="http://www.irishnews.com/" platform="highweb"/> </link> , Derrytresk chairman Barney Campbell claimed the club had not been made aware that the police would be involved.

"As it turned out, the PSNI were coming to it and we were never informed about that and there were a few people in the club not very happy about that (so) we just called it off," Mr Campbell said.

'Sensitive issue'

A spokesman for the Tyrone county board said they would have to respect the decision taken by the Derrytresk club.

The Armagh All-Ireland winning footballer Oisin McConville said the Live to Play events were a "great initiative" but the involvment of the police was still a "very, very sensitive issue".

He told BBC Radio Ulster that the club authorities had probably taken the decision in order to avoid any confrontation.

Derrytresk hit the headlines in January when a brawl broke out during its All-Ireland junior semi-final match against County Kerry team, Dromid Pearses.

The club has been suspended from Ulster and All-Ireland competitions for five years, while Dromid Pearses were given a three year ban.

Mr McConville said the last thing Derrytresk needed was more controversy.