Following the recent intervention by GAA President Jarlath Burns, former Derry, Donegal and Fermanagh manager Rory Gallagher will not be joining the Naas senior footballers as coach.
In 2023, Gallagher resigned as Derry manager days before his team’s Ulster final win over Armagh, following serious public allegations of domestic abuse made against him by his estranged wife, Nicola. A PSNI investigation was conducted, but no charges were pressed. Gallagher was temporarily barred from coaching and managing teams by the Ulster Council, but this decision was overturned by the Disputes Resolution Authority.
When news broke that Gallagher was take up a new role with Naas, Burns reportedly emailed the club with his misgivings, expressing concerns that the move might conflict with the GAA’s core values. This is an interesting development on several levels and has sparked mixed reactions.
Some have praised it as a significant stance by the GAA against domestic abuse, while others, claim it targets an ‘innocent’ man. Others still feel that Burns has overstepped. Irish Times GAA journalist Malachy Clerkin, argues in a recent article that Burns’ intervention represents an ‘unprecedented overreach’.
But does it, really?
In the court of public opinion, three main viewpoints have emerged. The first cohort, rooted in the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’, argues that Gallagher’s lack of a criminal conviction means he should be free to continue his career (he already holds a coaching role with Monaghan club Corduff, a position secured before Burns’........

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