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Reigning Longford senior soccer champions Killoe Emmet Óg are back in this year’s championship after the DRA Court announced tonight that it will overturn the draconian 48-week suspension imposed on the club by the Hearings Committee of Longford.
The DRA Court, consisting of Mr. Jarlath Fitzsimons SC, Mr. Eamonn Denieffe and Mr. Con Hogan, handled Killoe Emmet Óg’s challenge to the Longford Hearings Committee’s decision to disqualify them from the Championship of U16 Soccer 2019, imposing a fine of € 750.00 and a 48-week suspension for non-payment of said fine, a decision that was later confirmed by the Leinster Hearings Committee, on Friday night.
The Court deliberated as of Friday night and published its sixteen-page comprehensive decision this Sunday night “concluding that the Longford Court erred in finding that the mandatory and draconian sanction under Rule 6.24 (c) was applicable or appropriate “.
CONCLUSION AND DETERMINATION
46. Longford HC did not have jurisdiction to decide, when imposing a
fine to a Unit which, if it fails to pay any fine imposed for loss of
income within the period that may be stipulated, a suspension as provided for
Rule 6.24 (c) TO 2019 will apply.
47. Subsequently, Longford CCC erred in its decision to invoke Rule 6.24 (c) to
suspend the Club for 48 weeks on the basis that the Club had not paid the fine
imposed for loss of income “before the requested deadline.”
48. Leinster HC erred in upholding the Longford CCC decision for the reasons
outlined above and, furthermore, he was wrong to uphold the decision to impose a 48-
week suspension in circumstances where, when Leinster HC heard and
Once the appeal had been made, the fine had actually been paid by the Club.
49. In all the circumstances, the decision taken by Longford HC on February 20, 2020
is annulled to the extent that it intended to decide that:
“In the event that the fine is not paid on the stipulated date, a Suspension such as
provided for in Rule 6.24 (c) TO 2019 will apply from 1 Lunasa
2020. “
50. For the avoidance of doubt, in circumstances in which it is understood
the Court that the appeal presented by the Club on February 23, 2020 is still
pending before the Leinster HC, the Court does not issue any other order regarding
from the decision made by Longford HC on February 20, 2020.
51. Decisions taken by Longford CCC on August 11, 2020 and Leinster HC on August 26
August 2020 are canceled. Consequently, the suspension referred to in the
The decision made by Longford HC on February 20, 2020 is null and void.
52. In accordance with Rule 11.3 of the Dispute Resolution Code, the Court orders
Leinster HC will hear the Club’s appeal on February 23, 2020 as a matter
priority, with the following instructions as to the proper procedures to be
applied:
(1) The case is treated by a Committee constituted differently and, as
necessary, temporary members are appointed to Leinster HC in accordance with
Rule 7.14 to facilitate the processing of the case; and
(2) The case will be considered by Leinster HC in light of the Tribunal’s findings.
established in this Decision.
COSTS AND EXPENSES
53. The Court orders that the expenses of the DRA be covered jointly by Longford
HC and Longford CCC. The Tribunal also indicates that the deposit presented by
the Claimant is reimbursed by the Secretary
Read DRA’s full decision HERE
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