If Rory Gallagher is reinstated as the Derry Senior football manager, it would be a damning indictment of the GAA’s attitude towards women, signalling a blatant disregard for the serious allegations of domestic abuse made by his former wife, Nicola Gallagher.

The GAA has unquestionably sparked a deep passion for the game among young people across Fermanagh and this island, with its leadership instrumental in driving successes like the recent victory of the girls in the All-Ireland Junior contest in Fermanagh.

This achievement is not merely a reflection of athletic skill but of the vibrant, inclusive communities that clubs throughout the county and beyond have cultivated.

So, to even consider returning Gallagher to Derry is a move that undermines the association’s purported commitment to safeguarding, and it communicates a chilling message: that winning games and maintaining a competitive edge is more important than standing against domestic violence.

The GAA’s handling of this situation has already been called into question. To even consider this move would effectively erase any progress made in addressing these concerns.

It would reinforce the notion held by some that the GAA is more interested in protecting its own image and preserving its hierarchy than in addressing the very real and damaging issue of domestic abuse within its ranks. That’s what institutions do.

Nicola Gallagher’s allegations – which were first posted on Facebook – are not just a private matter; they are a public and deeply troubling issue that strikes at the heart of what the GAA claims to represent.

She said she was just 18 when she was “dragged into a car park”.

“I was beaten to within an inch of my life for no reason, by a person I trusted and thought was my best friend,” she said.

“I had a friend there that night who jumped on his back and got him off me; I owe her my life.

“While I was brought to hospital by my friends, he was back in the bar with some other poor girl ... I stayed at a friend’s that night, I was hysterical. When I came home the next day, my parents thought I’d been in a car accident, my face was so badly bruised, and I could hardly walk.

“I had to do my A-Levels with two black eyes and a fractured nose. I forgave that man and I married him. People like that don’t change.”

She then went on to detail what she claims were further attacks over the next two decades.

“At a wedding, I was bitten on the face because I said something he didn’t like. We left the venue, and I was dragged up the street by the hair while constantly being hit,” she wrote.

“I tried to flag down cars. I thought I was going to die.”

As some readers will know, I interviewed Nicola a few days after that social media post for the Sunday Independent, in which she made a number of allegations about her former husband – a well-known GAA manager and ex-player.

Sitting on a sofa, Nicola spoke softly but clearly. Her parents, Gerry and Yvonne Rooney, two well-respected businesspeople who own shops on both sides of the Border, looked on. Occasionally, her mother was reduced to tears.

“If you hadn’t written that Facebook post, what would have happened?” I asked.

“I would be dead, 100 per cent. I needed to do it — it was my last resort.”

Her parents agree: “This has been a long time coming,” Gerry said.

“This is your time now, Nicola,” Yvonne added.

Nicola has always been open about her use of alcohol due to what she said was the toxicity of a marriage which ended in September, 2019.

Her husband has been given custody of their three children.

“I have been extremely traumatised,” she said. “But you just keep going, you keep going, you keep going, you try to block it out, you tell yourself that it never happened.

“Then you hit a wall. I turned to alcohol to block it all out.

“I am in recovery now, but it hasn’t been easy. This last year has been the toughest of my life. I will not shy away from the fact I have had issues with alcohol, but I have done something about it. I am thankful for the support network I have in my family and in Fermanagh Women’s Aid.”

Earlier this year, Nicola was accused of drink-driving in the vicinity of Ashwoods Road, Enniskillen and assaulting a male police constable on the same date. She is due to contest the charges next month.

After she spoke out against her ex-husband last year, Gallagher stood down from his role as Derry manager but was pictured by the Sunday World coaching a club side in Monaghan in secret until a backlash forced him to step down from that role too.

In a statement at the time, Gallagher explained that their marriage ended over four years ago, noting that those close to the family “know the reasons” and the ongoing issues since.

He stated that after extensive court proceedings, he was granted full custody of their three children as recommended by social services. He also mentioned that the allegations against him had been investigated and addressed by the relevant authorities.

“My focus over the past four years has been to protect our children from the ongoing turmoil in our family,” he said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had “investigated a number of reported incidents and files have been submitted to the Public Prosecution Service”.

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) received two investigation files from the PSNI in January, 2022 and June, 2022.

It was determined there was not enough evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction in relation to any individual, with the decisions made in accordance with the PPS’ test for prosecution.

Gallagher was temporarily barred by the Ulster Council as they commissioned a safeguarding panel to look into the allegations.

But in February, that barring from GAA activity was lifted by the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA), and he was free to return to coaching within the GAA.

The independent arbitration body found in the Fermanagh native’s favour against the Ulster Council’s judgement, which precluded him from coaching teams.

Another troubling aspect of my interview with Nicola was her claim that her father had emailed the Derry Board in May, 2022 about the allegations, but nothing was done about it.

In response, a spokesperson for the Derry Board said they had “rigorously checked” their email system and had no record of “receiving any such email then or at any time subsequent to that”.

Given the backlash, it seems doubtful that Gallagher will return. However, Derry GAA must seriously consider the message it would send by reappointing him: that domestic abuse is not a disqualifying factor for leadership within the organisation.

This would be an insult to all those who have experienced domestic violence, and it would further alienate women and girls who look to the GAA as a place of community and respect.

Despite completing its safeguarding review, which has not yet been published, how can the GAA credibly claim to be committed to safeguarding?

This contradiction would render the task force’s efforts meaningless, reducing it to a mere public relations exercise rather than a genuine attempt to create a safer and more respectful culture within the GAA.

The association’s leaders need to understand that this is not just about one man’s career. It is about the values the GAA chooses to uphold, the example it sets for its members, and its commitment to protecting the vulnerable.

Like every other institution, the GAA wants to be seen as an organisation that stands for integrity, respect, and safety, but it cannot afford to ignore the voices of those who have suffered abuse.

Followers of this fine sport in Fermanagh and elsewhere take pride in their organisation. It’s difficult for so many of those decent people to realise that the trust built could be compromised in this way.

Reappointing Rory Gallagher would be a clear signal that the GAA does not take these issues seriously, and that it is willing to overlook domestic violence in the pursuit of success on the field.

GAA clubs in Fermanagh and across this island are more than just places to train; they are havens of passion, camaraderie, and integrity, where the love for the sport is inseparable from a commitment to prioritising the well-being of their members.

However, Gallagher’s return would not only represent a profound moral failure but also cast a long and dark shadow over the GAA, betraying its obligation to women.