Erne Gaels GAA: Person responsible for damage to goals comes forward

In the early hours of Sunday morning (July 17), it is understood that a car entered the club grounds and caused damage to the set of goals.

Damage was caused to a set of goals at Páirc na hEirne, the grounds of Erne Gaels.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter on Monday, July 18, following the incident, Peter McMahon, Erne Gaels Chairman, said: “It’s so sad. We are all volunteers that work with the club, and everybody is welcome in the club, no matter what creed or class or religion.

“As far as we understand, a car entered the football field, Páirc na hEirne, and did some damage to a set of goals; the net and the stanchions that hold the net up.

“The two poles that hold the net up were badly bent, and the net was torn off it as well.”

Damage was caused to a set of goals at Páirc na hEirne, the grounds of Erne Gaels.

He explained that due to the damage, the club will need a new net and new stanchions for the net: “It’ll take a bit of work. Luckily enough there was no immediate damage to the football pitch surface itself.”

Following the incident, the club posted to its social media page, appealing for the person responsible for the damage to come forward.

“We put out an appeal if they wanted to come person-to-person, or to go privately to our Facebook page, or to message our secretary privately or myself,” Peter told this newspaper on Monday, adding: “We would just appeal for people to not interfere with our property, because we are all volunteers looking after it.

Damage was caused to a set of goals at Páirc na hEirne, the grounds of Erne Gaels.

“We are there to make sure that the facilities are there for everybody – every child, boy or girl, man or woman, who wants to come and join in.”

On Tuesday afternoon, July 19, the club posted a second post on social media relating to the incident, stating that “the person has came forward [and the] damage will be paid for”.