The St. Aidan’s GAA mentor allegedly involved in an incident that left referee Kevin Naughton requiring medical attention at an U-17 match in Ballyforan in August received a hearing by the Roscommon Competitions Control Committee on Tuesday night.
The mentor had been informed of the committee’s proposed 96-week ban last week, before his club notified Roscommon County Board that he wished to seek a hearing.
Referee Kevin Naughton was hospitalised following an alleged assault just seconds after the throw-in for the second half of the U-17 football championship game between St. Aidan’s and St. Dominic’s on August 31st.
The incident led to all Roscommon referees in men’s and ladies’ football and camogie withdrawing their services on the weekend of September 16th to 18th, leading to the postponement of championship matches.
A special Roscommon Competitions Control Committee proposed the ban after Mr. Naughton submitted his report from the game.
According to GAA rules, a 96-week ban is the minimum suggested for a repeat offence of ‘striking or attempting to strike or any type of assault on a referee, umpire, linesman, or sideline official’. A first offence usually carries a minimum suspension of 48 weeks.
