'Right signals' sent after GAA assault sentencing - referees' committee chair

The imposition of a prison sentence on a man who admitted assaulting a referee and an umpire following a gaelic football match last year in Wexford has prompted hopes that referees will be afforded greater safety into the future.

Wexford GAA has already said it made a number of steps towards improving security for referees since the incident on 25 September last year at the St Joseph's GAA grounds at Whiterock Hill.

A junior football championship match between the home club and Our Lady’s Island was won by a point by Our Lady’s Island and, after the match, referee Michael Lanigan was punched on the back of the head from behind.

Umpire Edward Harding was pushed by the same person, 34-year-old Glen McManus of Cluain Dara in Clonard, Wexford.

McManus yesterday pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court to assaulting Mr Lanigan, causing him harm, and received an 18-month prison sentence with 12 months of that term suspended.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Harding and this offence was taken into consideration by Judge James McCourt.

The referee received hospital treatment at the time and was out of work for a number of weeks, but has since returned refereeing on a gradual basis.

Chairman of the Wexford GAA referees’ committee, Séamus Whelan, said such incidents are unacceptable and that he hoped the response, which also included a 48-week ban from the GAA for McManus, would send out a message.

"It will send out the right signals and the referees that I spoke to were happy, they feel more protected going forward."

He said a pro-active approach was taken by the Wexford County Board in the wake of the incident last September.

"They brought all the referees together and the management team and they all met up as a unit and came up