Willie Barrett: Time for the GAA to get serious about referee abuse

Former chairman of the GAA's national referees development committee, Willie Barrett, says the GAA need to get serious about the issue of referee abuse after the alleged assault of a Roscommon match official this week.

Barrett refereed from 1976 to 2018 and took charge of two All-Ireland senior hurling finals in that time.

Speaking in general terms only - and not about the alleged events of the past few days - Barrett says that only strong action would prevent incidents happening in the future.

"It worries me really," he says. "When it comes to any incident, there will be an outcry for four or five days and there will be an investigation by the GAA. But defence mechanisms can come into play and things can get watered down and then forgotten about for a while.

"The bottom line is that I feel that any attack, physical or otherwise, of a GAA official should see the full rigours of the law placed on the perpetrator.

"Any physical attack is a civil matter as far as I'm concerned.

"Suspensions from the association are handed out but what does that mean? Is someone suspended stopped at the gate for the next match or whatever? It does not happen," he said.

"Until we get really serious with all these matters it will continue.

"Such issues should come before the courts and I think that could be the end of it then.

"If strong action is taken people may think twice. At no stage is there any justification for physically assaulting a GAA official. That’s what I believe should happen. Take the strongest possible action and condemn it for what it was."

Over 12 years ago, Barrett was involved in an incident in a club game whilst he was refereeing.

"For me, over the years it was mostly that fellas might give out to you and so forth. That physical