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Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Sam Mulroy: 'Families, lives, work and holidays need to count. We're not paid for this thing'
Sam Mulroy got a message from his clubmate JP Rooney earlier this week. It was a picture of the former Louth player's son playing football in the backyard. Before Louth's victory in last month's Leinster final, which sealed their first senior provincial title in 68 years, it seemed the apple had fallen far from the tree. 'His young lad John was never in love with football until he came and watched Louth playing in a Leinster final a few weeks back,' explained Mulroy at the All-Ireland knockout stages launch. 'It was very nice to see that you're inspiring the next generation of players. 'Louth is a small county with two massive towns and two massive soccer clubs in Dundalk and Drogheda. It's been a battle over the last while, especially with Dundalk's success in recent years in Europe. There's definitely more Louth jerseys floating around on kids these days.' Three years ago, Mulroy appeared on the BBC's The GAA Social podcast and said winning a Leinster title in the next five or six years was a realistic ambition for Louth. He took flak for his comments. To some, it seemed fanciful. Dublin's All-Ireland juggernaut might have been halted the previous year, but they still looked unstoppable in the province. After losing the Leinster finals of 2023 and 2024 to Dublin, Mulroy's prophecy came through. He had stopped just short of saying 'why not?' when asked on that podcast if Louth could win the All-Ireland. Now he's edging closer towards it. 'Last week Meath beat Kerry, and they've beaten Dublin, and there's games, there's results that you wouldn't be calling, maybe last year, that are happening this year,' said Mulroy, top scorer in the championship with 4-34. He believes Gaelic football's new rules have made the game more open. That's not to say he loves every one of them. He doesn't like that the kickout has to go beyond the 40m arc or having to hand the ball to an opposition player after a foul is committed, but what annoys him most is the altering of the rules during the season. 'It's 11 v 11 instead of 15 v 15, there's space to get shots off; players are expressing themselves a little bit more because the game's so fast, and there seems to be a lot more plays happening,' he said. 'Each play doesn't seem to be as important, whereas last year, if you turned the ball over, you could go without the ball for three, four, five minutes.' Louth face Donegal in a preliminary quarter-final on Sunday in Ballybofey. Mulroy knows Donegal manager Jim McGuinness well. McGuinness was involved with Mulroy's club when they won the Louth SFC in 2020 and 2021, the former being the first time Naomh Mairtín claimed the senior title. 'Jim was immense when he was with us, and a gentleman, and always very good with his time,' said Mulroy. 'I've got an awful lot of respect for Jim and what he's done for the game, for Donegal and our club. That was our first ever senior title in the club, so it was very special. I'll never forget that and the help he gave us. 'I was captain in 2021. He was very big on leadership and driving the group on. He would have spoken to me individually. I learned an awful lot. Just on the training pitch, how he spoke to players and got us to bring up our levels - you can see why he's been so successful.' GAA president Jarlath Burns said earlier this month that moving the All-Ireland finals to August from 2027 on would have his support. It would not have the support of Mulroy, who enjoys the split season as it stands. 'It gives a bit more time for those county players to get a little bit of a rest before they go back to the club,' he said. 'Taking into consideration the players' downtime is massively important. If you bring the All-Ireland final back to August and then they're still playing their club finals in November, December, when are they going to stop? That has to be a key consideration for everyone that's making that decision: when do the players get time off? Families and lives and work and holidays need to count. We're not paid for this thing, so I think that definitely has to be the big consideration. 'Even if you got a few more weeks between games… It's not as if you get to go and live your life for a few weeks. You're still training like a professional athlete, you're still in the camp, you're still going away on training weekends. If you push the weeks out, you don't get the time off. It's not as if we're going to be let go and go sun ourselves for a few weeks. 'Prolonging the thing adds more volume of training for players. I know it's tight between games right now, but like, Jesus, I love it. I played last weekend, I get to play again this weekend, I'd rather that than having to go train.' The possibilities for Louth in Monday's draw were all tough. It was Kerry in Killarney, Dublin in Croke Park or Donegal in Ballybofey. They would have been underdogs in the first two, and also will be on Sunday, but it's not outlandish to think they could pull off an upset. 'That's my belief, and I'll definitely be putting that message to the players when we go to training, that we're not going up to Ballybofey for the craic, or to fulfil a fixture, we're in a preliminary quarter-final of the All-Ireland Series,' said Mulroy. 'We played in a quarter-final here (in Croke Park against Donegal) last year, so it's a case of, 'let's try to go better again this year, and try to progress as a team.''
South Wales Argus
21-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Legacy body ‘lacks powers of a public inquiry to examine Sean Brown murder'
The Irish Government is among those who have backed Mr Brown's family's long campaign for a public inquiry. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal in Belfast affirmed a previous court ruling, compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his killing. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has applied for a Supreme Court appeal on the judicial rulings. Bridie Brown, the widow of murdered GAA official Sean Brown, holds a picture of him, outside the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast (PA) Mr Brown, 61, the then chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Londonderry town of Bellaghy, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing. Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents. It was also alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning. In an interview earlier, Mr Brown's elderly widow Bridie, 87, said she does not know why her husband was killed, and reiterated her call for a public inquiry into his death to answer the questions her family has. 'I don't know why they chose Sean, I just do not know because he was the same with everybody,' she said during an interview on BBC's The GAA Social podcast. 'He treated everybody alike, he walked with both sides of the community.' She also paid tribute to the turnout of thousands in Bellaghy last Friday evening to support her family's campaign for a public inquiry. People in the town of Bellaghy, Co Londonderry, which came to a standstill on Friday night as they took part in a march in support of the family of Sean Brown (PA) 'It was emotional,' she said. 'Never in my wildest dreams had I thought about so big a turnout.' Last month, Mr Benn said he is taking steps to ensure that the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is capable of carrying out an independent and rigorous investigation into Mr Brown's murder. During an appearance at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, ICRIR chief commissioner Sir Declan Morgan was pressed by SDLP leader Claire Hanna on the Brown case. Sir Declan said if the case came to the ICRIR, his investigators would carry out a cold case review, a scoping exercise and would treat the case as a criminal investigation and gather all the evidence. 'But I agree that we could not do the next step which is subsequent to that, once the terms of reference have been set, and up to that point, we're definitely Article 2 compliant,' he told MPs at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. 'But the next bit is having identified what the issues are to then organise a hearing with proper representation by lawyers in relation to that, and also understanding that the sensitive information arrangements, in my view, need to be reviewed and the commission needs to be able to exercise proper challenge in relation to those.' Claire Hanna has supported the Brown family (MP) Speaking outside the meeting, Ms Hanna said the ICRIR in its current form 'cannot fully meet the needs of the family of Sean Brown'. 'Today's comments from Sir Declan Morgan are welcome and shine a light on where the ICRIR falls short,' she said. 'Any further delay to the resuming and restarting of inquests alongside the continued denial of a public inquiry to the Brown family is the British Government delaying truth and justice. 'The SDLP is committed to the delivery of legacy structures that families can buy into. Sir Declan's comments underline our key concerns about deficiencies relating to participation by families in proceedings and the continued existence of a veto on information by the Secretary of State.'
Leader Live
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Legacy body ‘lacks powers of a public inquiry to examine Sean Brown murder'
The Irish Government is among those who have backed Mr Brown's family's long campaign for a public inquiry. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal in Belfast affirmed a previous court ruling, compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his killing. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has applied for a Supreme Court appeal on the judicial rulings. Mr Brown, 61, the then chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Londonderry town of Bellaghy, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing. Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents. It was also alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning. In an interview earlier, Mr Brown's elderly widow Bridie, 87, said she does not know why her husband was killed, and reiterated her call for a public inquiry into his death to answer the questions her family has. 'I don't know why they chose Sean, I just do not know because he was the same with everybody,' she said during an interview on BBC's The GAA Social podcast. 'He treated everybody alike, he walked with both sides of the community.' She also paid tribute to the turnout of thousands in Bellaghy last Friday evening to support her family's campaign for a public inquiry. 'It was emotional,' she said. 'Never in my wildest dreams had I thought about so big a turnout.' Last month, Mr Benn said he is taking steps to ensure that the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is capable of carrying out an independent and rigorous investigation into Mr Brown's murder. During an appearance at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, ICRIR chief commissioner Sir Declan Morgan was pressed by SDLP leader Claire Hanna on the Brown case. Sir Declan said if the case came to the ICRIR, his investigators would carry out a cold case review, a scoping exercise and would treat the case as a criminal investigation and gather all the evidence. 'But I agree that we could not do the next step which is subsequent to that, once the terms of reference have been set, and up to that point, we're definitely Article 2 compliant,' he told MPs at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. 'But the next bit is having identified what the issues are to then organise a hearing with proper representation by lawyers in relation to that, and also understanding that the sensitive information arrangements, in my view, need to be reviewed and the commission needs to be able to exercise proper challenge in relation to those.' Speaking outside the meeting, Ms Hanna said the ICRIR in its current form 'cannot fully meet the needs of the family of Sean Brown'. 'Today's comments from Sir Declan Morgan are welcome and shine a light on where the ICRIR falls short,' she said. 'Any further delay to the resuming and restarting of inquests alongside the continued denial of a public inquiry to the Brown family is the British Government delaying truth and justice. 'The SDLP is committed to the delivery of legacy structures that families can buy into. Sir Declan's comments underline our key concerns about deficiencies relating to participation by families in proceedings and the continued existence of a veto on information by the Secretary of State.'
Powys County Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Legacy body ‘lacks powers of a public inquiry to examine Sean Brown murder'
The head of a legacy body has conceded it does not have the same array of powers that a public inquiry would to examine the murder of GAA official Sean Brown. The Irish Government is among those who have backed Mr Brown's family's long campaign for a public inquiry. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal in Belfast affirmed a previous court ruling, compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his killing. However, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has applied for a Supreme Court appeal on the judicial rulings. Mr Brown, 61, the then chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Londonderry town of Bellaghy, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing. Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents. It was also alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning. In an interview earlier, Mr Brown's elderly widow Bridie, 87, said she does not know why her husband was killed, and reiterated her call for a public inquiry into his death to answer the questions her family has. 'I don't know why they chose Sean, I just do not know because he was the same with everybody,' she said during an interview on BBC's The GAA Social podcast. 'He treated everybody alike, he walked with both sides of the community.' She also paid tribute to the turnout of thousands in Bellaghy last Friday evening to support her family's campaign for a public inquiry. 'It was emotional,' she said. 'Never in my wildest dreams had I thought about so big a turnout.' Last month, Mr Benn said he is taking steps to ensure that the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) is capable of carrying out an independent and rigorous investigation into Mr Brown's murder. During an appearance at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, ICRIR chief commissioner Sir Declan Morgan was pressed by SDLP leader Claire Hanna on the Brown case. Sir Declan said if the case came to the ICRIR, his investigators would carry out a cold case review, a scoping exercise and would treat the case as a criminal investigation and gather all the evidence. 'But I agree that we could not do the next step which is subsequent to that, once the terms of reference have been set, and up to that point, we're definitely Article 2 compliant,' he told MPs at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. 'But the next bit is having identified what the issues are to then organise a hearing with proper representation by lawyers in relation to that, and also understanding that the sensitive information arrangements, in my view, need to be reviewed and the commission needs to be able to exercise proper challenge in relation to those.' Speaking outside the meeting, Ms Hanna said the ICRIR in its current form 'cannot fully meet the needs of the family of Sean Brown'. 'Today's comments from Sir Declan Morgan are welcome and shine a light on where the ICRIR falls short,' she said. 'Any further delay to the resuming and restarting of inquests alongside the continued denial of a public inquiry to the Brown family is the British Government delaying truth and justice. 'The SDLP is committed to the delivery of legacy structures that families can buy into. Sir Declan's comments underline our key concerns about deficiencies relating to participation by families in proceedings and the continued existence of a veto on information by the Secretary of State.'
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Legacy body 'lacks powers of a public inquiry to examine Sean Brown murder'
The head of a legacy body has conceded it does not have the same array of powers that a public inquiry would to examine the murder of GAA official Sean Brown. The Irish Government is among those who have backed his family's long campaign for such an investigation. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal in Belfast affirmed a previous court ruling, compelling the UK government to hold a public inquiry into his killing. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. Mr Brown, 61, then chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Derry town of Bellaghy, was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has been convicted of his killing. Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents. It was also alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume the following morning. Mr Brown's widow, Bridie, said that she does not know why her husband was killed and reiterated her call for a public inquiry into his death to answer the questions her family has. "I don't know why they chose Sean, I just do not know because he was the same with everybody," the 87-year-old said during an interview on BBC's The GAA Social podcast. "He treated everybody alike, he walked with both sides of the community." She also paid tribute to the thousands of people who turned out in Bellaghy last Friday to support her family's campaign for a public inquiry. "It was emotional. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought about so big a turnout," Mrs Brown said. Last month, Mr Benn said he was taking steps to ensure that the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was capable of carrying out an independent and rigorous investigation into Mr Brown's murder. During an appearance at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, ICRIR Chief Commissioner Declan Morgan was pressed by SDLP leader Claire Hanna on the case. Mr Morgan said that if it came to the ICRIR, investigators would carry out a cold case review, a scoping exercise and would treat the case as a criminal investigation and gather the evidence. "But I agree that we could not do the next step which is subsequent to that, once the terms of reference have been set, and up to that point, we're definitely Article 2 compliant," he told MPs. "But the next bit is having identified what the issues are to then organise a hearing with proper representation by lawyers in relation to that, and also understanding that the sensitive information arrangements, in my view, need to be reviewed and the commission needs to be able to exercise proper challenge in relation to those." Speaking outside the meeting, Ms Hanna said the ICRIR in its current form "cannot fully meet the needs of the family of Sean Brown". "Today's comments from Sir Declan Morgan are welcome and shine a light on where the ICRIR falls short," Ms Hanna said. "Any further delay to the resuming and restarting of inquests alongside the continued denial of a public inquiry to the Brown family is the British government delaying truth and justice. "The SDLP is committed to the delivery of legacy structures that families can buy into. Sir Declan's comments underline our key concerns about deficiencies relating to participation by families in proceedings and the continued existence of a veto on information by the secretary of state".
