Mayo cut ties with O’Leary over social media posts

County end relationship after millionaire backer called for Horan to be removed

MAYO GAA has broken off all dialogue with the chairman of the county’s International Supporters Foundation Tim O’Leary after his social media call for James Horan to be removed as Mayo manager.

O’Leary posted the comment “#Horanout We are not very good #TruthHurts always” on his Twitter account in the wake of the county’s nine-point defeat to Monaghan in the Allianz League on Sunday.

He had been to the Ireland v England Six Nations rugby international when he made the comment which he subsequently took down and apolo- gised for yesterday morning.

But the nature of the comment about their manager (pictured, bottom) and the focus it, once again, has brought back on Mayo GAA, even though the financier had walked it back, prompted Mayo GAA to review their relationship with him and decide to end it, confirming that they had “ceased all dialogue” with O’Leary (pictured, top) in a short statement last night.

“Although relations were strained for a number of months, a way forward was agreed in January and it was hoped that both parties would be able to work together for the betterment of Mayo GAA. This, however, is now not the case,” the statement read.

“The club delegates of Mayo GAA have mandated agreed behaviours based on mutual respect, the exclusion of animosity and the inappropriate use of communication channels such as social media.

“Mayo GAA will not engage with stakeholders whose behaviours deviate from what has been mandated by our clubs and in light of recent social media comments made by Mr O’Leary engagement has now ceased.”

The O’Leary chaired-Foundation has been at odds with Mayo GAA since last summer when issues over governance were raised in the wake of a New York fundraiser which generated €250,000.

The Foundation withheld the money as it sought answers but with top table figures departing from the Mayo County Board agreement was reached at the end of last month between the Foundation and the new board executive that the money would be set aside for an expanded Academy. At the time O’Leary declared he was “very happy that a resolution has been reached and that the Foundation money can now be released to Mayo GAA in accordance with the April 9, 2019 email,” reference to original terms set out by the Foundation for the New York fundraiser.

The Bahamas-based businessman received an apology from new Mayo chairman Liam Moffatt for “any inappropriate and personal remarks” directed towards him while he also expressed regret over “some of his own behaviours.”