A widespread investigation into the alleged rigging of competitions by Irish dancing teachers and judges has been dropped, it has been confirmed.
The probe by Irish dancing’s main ruling body An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) will go no further, after it was launched in 2022.
The allegations rocked the highly competitive Irish dancing world and led to the suspension of over 40 judges and teachers, while CLRG hired a private investigation firm to look into the claims.
The controversy also led to a planned five-part BBC documentary series on competitive Irish dancing to be shelved.
On Thursday it emerged that the CLRG had confirmed an end to the investigation, with nor further action to be taken against those accused of rigging competitions.
It is understood there was an issue with a suitable witness for the investigation process.
A letter which was sent to CLRG members by its chair, Sandra Connick, said the decision not to continue with the probe was taken by the organisations ethics committee, Coiste Faire.
“It is with great regret that I must now inform you that CLRG is no longer in a position to pursue further disciplinary action against those individuals accused of wrongdoing,” she wrote in a letter, details of which were published by the BBC.
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Ms Connick said she and others were “extremely frustrated by this decision” but said it was a “necessary and unavoidable course of action at this time”.
She added that the “procedures around adjudication” have been strengthened to address concerns, and that the governing body is undergoing a “modernisation and transformation process” following an independent review carried out last year.
