Northern Ireland

Fermanagh and Derry GAA say they never received any official complaints about Rory Gallagher

It has been claimed senior figures within Derry GAA were notified of allegations regarding Rory Gallagher in May 2022
It has been claimed senior figures within Derry GAA were notified of allegations regarding Rory Gallagher in May 2022 It has been claimed senior figures within Derry GAA were notified of allegations regarding Rory Gallagher in May 2022

Both Fermanagh and Derry GAA have said they never received any official complaints of domestic abuse about football manager Rory Gallagher.

It comes after his estranged wife Nicola Gallagher claimed she had told the Fermanagh and Derry county boards, but nothing was done.

Ms Gallagher alleged that the GAA "knew about all of this, 100 per cent".

"The county boards of Fermanagh and Derry knew because (my father and I) told them," she told the Sunday Independent.

“There were senior members of the GAA who knew what was going on, there are incidents that took place at GAA events.

"It was a well-known fact.”

Her father Gerry Rooney confirmed that an email had been sent to “the management of Derry GAA” on May 25 last year.

The family said it received no response.

But in a statement issued on Monday, Fermanagh GAA denied the claims.

"While we will not make any comment on specific allegation or allegations, we can state that Fermanagh GAA has never received any official complaints," the statement said.

"Fermanagh GAA does not condone any form of domestic abuse. 

"We echo the words of Ulster GAA; we encourage and support anyone who has been a victim of such abuse not to suffer in silence but to avail of the statutory and voluntary support services that are available in the community."

Ms Gallagher last week went public over how she had been the victim of serious domestic violence for more than two decades.

It detailed violent incidents alleged to have taken place on both sides of the border.

There is still mounting pressure on Derry GAA to comment on the claims that senior figures within the sporting organisation were notified of allegations regarding Mr Gallagher in May 2022.

In a statement issued on Monday, Derry GAA board said: "It was reported in the weekend media that Derry GAA did not respond to an email relating to these allegations which was reportedly sent on May 25 2022. We have rigoursly checked our email system and we have no record of receiving any such email then or at any time subsequent to that. We have not been able to verify the address the email was sent to, but we believe it may have been sent to a defunct administrator address. 

"Derry GAA was unaware of these allegations until they emerged last week. We condemn all forms of domestic violence and we encourage anyone who has experienced domestic violence to report it to the relevant authorities immediately."

Ulster GAA has confirmed its safeguarding team was contacted by Ms Gallagher last year.

A spokesperson said: “Given the nature of the concerns, advice in line with child and adult safeguarding policy and procedures and legislation was given. No further contact was received following this".

It has also emerged that the Public Prosecution Service is to contact Ms Gallagher after she said she felt let down by several organisations in connection with the allegations against her estranged husband, who stepped aside as Derry’s senior county manager on Friday.

She said she felt “let down” by the PPS, PSNI, the Western Health Trust and GAA.

Rory Gallagher stepped down as Derry’s senior county manager on Friday
Rory Gallagher stepped down as Derry’s senior county manager on Friday Rory Gallagher stepped down as Derry’s senior county manager on Friday

The PSNI investigated the claims against Mr Gallagher and passed two files to the PPS in January and June 2022, but the evidence available was deemed insufficient and the case did not progress.

A spokesperson for the PPS said on Monday that it plans to contact Ms Gallagher to "discuss her concerns".

"The PPS takes cases of domestic violence and abuse extremely seriously, and we are committed to prosecuting all such cases where the evidence allows us to do so, in strict accordance with the PPS Code for Prosecutors," a spokeswoman said.

"We are aware of comments made by Mrs Gallagher in the media.

"We will contact Mrs Gallagher to discuss her concerns."

The Irish News asked the PSNI if there were any plans to re-open the investigation into the allegations against Mr Gallagher or launch a fresh probe.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Police investigated a number of reported incidents and files have been submitted to the PPS."

Chief Inspector Heather Campbell from the Public Protection Branch said: “The PSNI takes all allegations of violence and harassment against women seriously and we work alongside partners to help keep all women safe.

“Within the PSNI's Public Protection Branch (PPB), there are specially trained domestic abuse officers who strive to protect victims, prosecute offenders and prevent re-offending.

"Domestic abuse is a service priority and a focus for all officers and we appeal to anyone who has been a victim of domestic violence to report it to us.”

The Western Trust has said it cannot comment on individual cases “due to privacy and confidentiality reasons”.

It is understood a formal complaint has not yet been made to An Garda Síochána.