Kerry GAA club called a group of ‘vigilantes’
Builder tells court of ‘vendetta’
A KERRY GAA club was called a ‘vigilante group with a vendetta’ in court this week, as a returned emigrant alleged he had been the subject of a vicious smear campaign – in a dispute that’s been likened to John B Keane’s The Field.
Mike McElligott, 54, who owns a construction firm in Tarbert, north Kerry, made the claims about Tarbert GAA at Listowel Circuit Court.
He is taking a civil case, over a disputed right of way, against former chairman of Tarbert GAA Joseph Langan, of Chapel Street in Tarbert, and Kevin Enright, of Doonard Lower, also in Tarbert. They were both nominees of Tarbert GAA.
Mr McElligott told the judge anonymous letters were sent to Kerry County Council alleging health and safety problems on sites where his staff had been working.
He also said, after he got a job to build an extension at Tarbert Comprehensive School, the school’s principal was sent unsigned letters claiming his workmanship wasn’t up to standard.
He also said two Polish tenants, who are renting one of his properties next to the disputed lane, have also been harassed. He said: ‘On a number of occasions somebody has been flashing a torch in the windows of the house, and men have been seen measuring the width of their cars when they were parked outside. They have also been sent letters by the GAA club threatening to clamp them if they continue to park their cars outside my house. Local children have even been asked not to play with my tenants’ children at school.’ He said: ‘The GAA is represented as a community group to enable people to play and enjoy sport, but Tarbert GAA is nothing but a vigilante group with a vendetta against Mike McElligott.’
The court heard, in 2015, Mr McElligot wrote to a number of public representatives requesting a game between Tarbert GAA and Dr Crokes GAA, a club in Killarney, be postponed as a matter of public safety. He said: ‘There were problems with their sewage, it was flowing on to a property beside mine any time their facility was used, I wasn’t being spiteful, it was a public health issue.’ The hearing was adjourned until January.