THREE women footballers have issued legal proceedings against a north Belfast GAA club after a bitter fallout during which they were accused of forgery.
The allegation was made after a group of players at St Enda's GAC in Glengormley put their names to a letter asking for changes within the club.
It was claimed that some names were used without the consent of players or their guardians and a disciplinary committee handed out 20-week suspensions to three women in March 2022.
However, the suspensions were overturned on appeal by the Antrim Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) in April 2022.
St Enda's appealed the LGFA decision to the GAA's Dispute Resolution Authority in April 2022. It is understood the case has not reached an outcome.
The three footballers who were suspended were Orlaith Murray (22), then captain of the St Enda’s senior ladies and a medical student; Ellie Murphy (19), a physiotherapy student and at the time of the suspensions a member of the LGFA Antrim County panel and all Ireland medallist; and Molly McAuley (21), who is studying for an MA in politics.
All three have since transferred to other clubs.
Proceedings have been issued against St Enda’s GAC, with the three footballers claiming they have suffered ‘personal injury, loss and damage’, as a result of the actions of the club.
Speaking following the lodging of court proceedings, solicitor Colin Donnelly of Toal Heron Donnelly said the three women “have yet to receive any apology or retraction of the allegation from the club.
He said: “Our clients’ proceedings relate to these young ladies having been accused by St Enda’s GAC, of committing forgery, which our clients denied and for which they were fully absolved and vindicated by Antrim LGFA."
He added: “Given that court proceedings are now active, no further comment will be issued until matters are resolved.”
Ellie Murphy said: “This has been a dreadful ordeal for us…. It has taken a toll on us especially at a time when we needed to get our heads down to study for exams."
Orlaith Murray said: “Being accused of forgery by your club, is an awful thing to have to face. You worry that people inside and outside the club are going to believe it.”
In a statement, St Enda's club said: "Naomh Éanna CLG are a vibrant club providing camogie, LGFA, Gaelic football, hurling and handball from nursery fundamentals at U6 through to senior.
"We are a volunteer-based organisation and are saddened that three former adult members of our club have decided to take legal action against us.
"As legal proceedings have been issued, it would be inappropriate to comment on any substantive issue, save to say that we will be robustly defending our position."
