A Donegal GAA club has escaped an eight-week ban for hosting a charity soccer match for a former player and manager after a successful appeal.
Naomh Colmcille, of Newtowncunningham, hosted the match in honour of Paul Dillon - who suffers from motor neurone disease - in February and faced the ban and a €500 fine for hosting the game on the club's grounds.
But in an appeal to Donegal GAA heard on Tuesday, the findings issued this evening mean that the club will be allowed to play adult games - but lose home fixtures for 12 weeks.
The ban on home fixtures is effective from the day of the hearing, Naomh Colmcille are scheduled to play five home games during that period.
The club will also be fined €250.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror last month, Mr Dillon said: “I just think it’s wrong for a start.
Man blasts potential ban for GAA club that hosted charity soccer tournament in his honour
“I was involved with the club. I played for them and I managed their teams for 10 years and won lots of trophies for the club underage.
“I’m just very shocked you know, I think it’s a disgrace really. It was only mates really coming together for a bit of craic.
“There was nothing serious, it was just some people coming together – my friends organised it for me to raise a few pounds for renovations for my house and stuff.”
Mr Dillon, a former player and manager of Colmcille’s U13 and U14 teams, was diagnosed with the debilitating illness earlier this year and the GAA club’s fundraiser in February was part of a community drive – including concerts and a 5km fun run that raised €85,000 for his treatment.
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