FAI seek to push out hearing before Sports Committee on handling of historical abuse claims

Irish Examiner

07-07-2025

The Football Association of Ireland has requested extra time from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport to attend a hearing around the handling of historical abuse cases.
Cork North Central Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan, speaking under Dáil privilege last month, raised concerns that the FAI were slow in acting on information about alleged actions of the former Ireland women's manager Mick Cooke.
He refutes the accusations made in the joint investigation produced by RTÉ/Sunday Independent last year.
'For an organisation such as the FAI not to act on this matter, even in the absence of an official complaint or allegation, is extremely worrying and, if I am being brutally honest, it directly contradicts its child welfare and safeguarding policy," said O'Sullivan.
It followed revelations that a former senior FAI executive, ex-press chief Cathal Dervan, expressed his dissatisfaction at the association's delay in confronting the issue through a protected disclosure.
A series of emails publicised show the suspicions were first raised in May 2023, whereas the FAI only formally acted on the back of a formal complaint received in January 2024.
Deputy O'Sullivan's concerns led to a recent invitation being tabled for this Wednesday but the FAI cited the ongoing Garda Síochána investigation for their reticence to appear.
Committee Chairman Alan Kelly duly responded last Wednesday, contending this was irrelevant to the thrust of the hearing which was to establish the circumstances around which the heavily tax-payer reliant FAI dealt with the matter.
'The FAI can confirm that an invitation to attend a meeting with the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport has been accepted,' read an FAI statement on Monday morning.
'However, the association has requested that the date be deferred by a period of four weeks to enable adequate preparation time, given the complexity introduced by the Committee seeking material that relates directly to an ongoing Garda investigation.
'The Committee originally sought availability from the Association to discuss 'Safeguarding Policies and Procedures within the FAI'.
'Of the two dates offered the FAI were only available for Wednesday July 9 due to annual leave for key personnel on the alternative date (Wednesday July 16).
'When the formal invite was received on Friday June 27 (8 working days prior to the session) the Committee requested a broad range of documents, many that relate specifically to an ongoing Garda investigation.
'Given the complexities involved in collating and considering our ability to comply with this request and to enable adequate preparation time we have sought a deferral of four weeks. Any disclosure must also be assessed carefully for legal and GDPR compliance given the sensitive and confidential nature of safeguarding information requested.
'Over the intervening period we will continue to liaise with the Committee to ensure the scope of the session is clearly defined to ensure that no parties could inadvertently compromise an ongoing investigation.
'We fully respect the important work of the Joint Committee and acknowledge the critical oversight role it plays in relation to legislation, policy, governance, expenditure and administration of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
'The FAI is fully committed to engaging constructively with the Committee on this matter and we look forward to them defining a revised date where this session can proceed.
'The Association would like to reiterate that everyone involved in Irish football should, at all times, feel that they are in a safe environment. If you have experienced any form of abuse within Irish football, you can report it by visiting www.fai.ie/safeguarding.'