MEATH County Board is to investigate an incident in which the county’s senior football manager Andy McEntee is alleged to have told a local reporter: “I’ll take the f**king head off you.”
The incident occurred following Meath’s heavy loss to Dublin in last Sunday’s Leinster football final, a match in which Meath scored only four points.
Up to eight of McEntee’s panelists are due to take part in hurling championship games within the county this weekend and Meath Chronicle reporter Jimmy Geoghegan asked McEntee if he would be releasing these players for their hurling clubs at the weekend.
McEntee’s alleged reply was: “Are you f**king mad? What sort of f**king question is that to ask me?”
Geoghegan then made his way to the team bus to interview some of the Meath players, who were said to be “obliging”, and it was at this point that it is claimed that McEntee said to Geoghegan: “I’ll take the f**king head off you if I see you near the f**king dressing room again.”
The Meath Chronicle described the incident, which they claim was recorded on tape, as an “extraordinary attack” on one of Meath’s “most respected writers”.
The publication claim that they have asked for a formal apology on behalf of Andy McEntee but, as of yet, none has been forthcoming.
Meath County Board issued a statement to the Meath Chronicle dismissing the relevance of Geoghegan’s question, saying: “On cross codes in the GAA individual players are encouraged to make their own decisions and “hearsay” talk of things being different is just that.”
Meath County Board also confirmed that they would be launching an internal investigation into the alleged comments.
“We trust that the Meath Chronicle will accept that in this delicate situation it is in both our interests to move forward and continue the excellent relationship with the Meath Chronicle that has remained for generations,” the Meath County Board said.
Both parties have indicated that they do not wish to issue any further comments regarding the alleged altercation.
