Northern Ireland

Mickey Harte: Co Cavan GAA club complains about pro-life video filmed at its ground

Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte speaking in a pro-life LoveBoth video at Cootehill Celtic's ground in Co Cavan last month
Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte speaking in a pro-life LoveBoth video at Cootehill Celtic's ground in Co Cavan last month Tyrone GAA manager Mickey Harte speaking in a pro-life LoveBoth video at Cootehill Celtic's ground in Co Cavan last month

A GAA club in Co Cavan has complained to the Tyrone board after it claimed the county's manager Mickey Harte filmed a pro-life video at its ground without permission.

Mr Harte is a prominent member of Gaelic Athletes for Life - a group which is campaigning for a 'No' vote in next month's abortion referendum in the Republic.

Cootehill Celtic said the pro-life video, part of a separate LoveBoth campaign, was filmed at its ground without its knowledge or consent.

The LoveBoth video was released at the end of last month and featured Mr Harte sitting in the stands of a GAA ground calling for a 'No' vote.

In the video, which remained online last night, Mr Harte talked about the importance of supporting the “most vulnerable members” of Irish society.

Cootehill Celtic said in a statement posted on Facebook earlier this month: "Our club is non-political and non-sectarian - as such we would never tell citizens how to vote - that is a matter for individuals to decide at the ballot-box, none of a GAA club's business. We have requested that the video, falsely associating our club with Mr Harte's views, be taken down forthwith".

The complaint has emerged as the GAA has written to all clubs to remind them that no club or county facilities should be used by either side in the referendum campaign.

Mr Harte was part of a second anti-abortion campaign launched in the Ballyfermot suburb of Dublin last weekend.

Gaelic Athletes for Life claimed repeal of the Eighth Amendment, which gives equal weight to the life of a mother and her unborn child, "would allow abortions up to six months of gestation”.

"It would allow healthy babies, of healthy mothers, to be killed for any reason," it said.

Several other high profile GAA figures including Derry and All Ireland-winning club camogie captain Aoife Cassidy and Antrim footballer Patrick Gallagher are also involved in the campaign.

Following the launch on Sunday, Ballyfermot GAA released a statement clarifying that the event did not take place at their club.

“It would be wholly inappropriate for the club to be associated with the launch as the GAA and its clubs do not become involved in political matters,” it said.

Within hours, GAA headquarters in Croke Park issued an instruction to all clubs, saying that none of its facilities should be used by either side in the campaign.

Tyrone County Board, Mr Harte and Cootehill Celtic were unavailable for comment last night.