AN investigation into alleged attempts to fix Irish dancing competitions hosted by its largest governing organisation will be led by a former judge of the Irish Court of Appeal.
The former judge, not named by An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha (CLRG), The Irish Dancing Commission, will investigate claims of possible "inducements" linked to competitions.
CLRG is the oldest Irish dancing and teaching organisation in the world, headquartered in Ireland but with affiliates in Britain, the United States and various other parts of the world. It is understood there are tens of thousands of competitors in Ireland alone with many more internationally.
Its All Scotland Championships begins today in Glasgow. Belfast hosted the 2022 World Championship in April.
In a statement posted on its website, the organisation stated: "In July 2022 an Coiste Faire (CLRG Ethics Committee) received allegations, with supporting documentation, of several grievous breaches of our Code of Conduct. Such unethical behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated by this organisation.
"Due to the potential extent of such allegations - and to ensure fairness, transparency and thoroughness - the services of an independent former judge of the Court of Appeal have been engaged to oversee and supervise the immediate investigation into these matters.
"They will have full and open access to the resources and records of CLRG. The process will no doubt be difficult and arduous, but this grossly unethical behaviour must be eliminated from our competitions, dance schools and governing organisations.
"An Coimisiún regards such breaches to be Gross Misconduct. Any registered member found to be engaged in such practices will be subject to due and full process under our published Disciplinary Procedures. This process has already started and the principles of natural justice apply. To ensure the integrity of the process and until it is complete, no further comments will be made."
In a similar but separate statement, read by Joe Duffy on RTE's Liveline, the organisation said the "evidence apparently dates back several years and identifies individuals allegedly offering various inducements to promote dancers to a higher than deserved placing at particular competitions".
The organisation added: "It is believed that there are a number of teachers and schools implicated in the allegations."
It further appealed to any person with information to come forward so that it can be included in the investigation.
The Irish Dancing Commission is one of a number of groups involved in the teaching of the dance and the organisation of competitions. The second largest such group, Comhdháil na Múinteoirí le Rincí Gaelacha, The Congress of Irish Dance Teachers, split from the CLRG in the late sixties.
Online boards dedicated to Irish dancing included many posts referencing the investigation, with some messages advocating protests at events.
