GAA club co-operating with Garda investigation into strippers at party

THE GAA club at the centre of controversy caused by a celebration party featuring strippers is cooperating fully with a Garda investigation.

Pat Kealy, a committee member of the Saint Patrick’s GAA Club in Ballyragget, confirmed the club is cooperating with an investigation into the party where female strippers were filmed posing with a hurling trophy.

No player had been dropped from the club team’s fixture today as a result of what occurred at the party, he said.

The team, which won the Kilkenny Intermediate County Hurling Championship, will play Kildare champions Ardclough today in Newbridge in a Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship game.

Asked if all members of the club team will be allowed to represent the club team in today’s game, Mr Kealy said: “The club won’t stop them. We’ll let them play.”

Members of Kilkenny County Board and the club have indicated they would cooperate fully with a Garda investigation into activities at the party.

He told the Irish Independent that club members have spoken with gardaí who were conducting the investigation.

Club members “have had a few words” with those conducting the investigation, he said yesterday.

“The boys on the board know themselves that if you win a trophy, you celebrate. That’s the way it is,” he said.

Mr Kealy said he had nothing whatsoever to do with the controversial party that took place.

Referring to the possibility of celebrating another victory after today’s match, he said: “It’s not business as usual. If we win tomorrow we won’t be doing the same thing or anything like it.

“There will be a few of the lads back in the clubhouse and there will be a few drinks.

“We’ll have to cut back a little bit after the last time. It wasn’t good for the club,” he said.

A video emerged of the controversial party that marked the 21st birthday of a club member two days after the club won the county final.

Photos and video from the incident went viral on social media. The photos show two naked women with the group of men in a local pub where the trophy was on display.

The club had no role whatsoever in the private birthday event. Only a few team members were present.

A person unconnected with the club arranged the visit by strippers unbeknownst to members of the team, claimed a team source recently.