NOT HINDERED
GALWAY GAA chairman Pat Kearney says he blocked nothing and no one in regard to the investigation into the county’s financial irregularities
Kearney, who was elected unopposed at a fiery annual convention on Monday night, said they now need to implement new policies and controls following an independent review.
Delegates at the Galway convention were shocked by what they heard from treasurer
Mike Burke, who took up office a year ago.
Credit card irregularities are said to have occurred, unauthorised bonus payments were signed off on, and that ticket money was not paid to Croke Park on a timely basis.
The treasurer also claimed he had been blocked by people inside Galway GAA as he sought to uncover the truth behind their finances earlier this year.
Kearney responded: “I just heard someone talking about people who are blocking and preventing progress on the audit report; I can categorically say that I blocked nothing and that I helped them the whole time.
“When I became chairman in 2017 you are dealt the hand you are dealt and you have to deal with it.
“We went to Croke
Park in April 2017. The process has been long and it has been painful, there are legal constraints on us. We get legal advice and if we don’t take it we’re shot and if do take it we’re also criticised.
“I think I’ve always kept the interest of Galway GAA at heart. I have worked day and night for the last 18 months to try to help things on and get along. There is a lot of work behind the scenes that nobody knows anything about.
“I don’t want to say any more. We are moving forward and that’s what we have to do.”