Bohs fan fails to get 'hooligan associates' ban lifted
Independent.ie
Bohs fan fails to get 'hooligan associates' ban lifted
Ray Managh
A judge has refused to order Bohemians football club to lift a ban on a fan over claims he associated with a hooligan group.
Hospital administrator Glen Kelehan has been a home and away supporter of Boh's for 30 years and a season ticket holder for its Dalymount Park ground for five years.
Gerard Hussey, counsel for Kelehan, told the Circuit Civil Court his client was now being kept out of all Bohemians Football Club's home games.
He said Kelehan, who lives in the shadows of the ground in Connaught Street, Phibsboro, had already been refused entry to away games in Cork and Galway after Bohs officials tipped off stewards and gardai.
Judge Jacqueline Linnane was asked for injunctions restraining Bohs from preventing him attending Dalymount Park, asserting he had been guilty of misbehaviour while attending matches, or including him in any blacklist circulated to other football clubs.
Mr Hussey said his client would miss all games between now and the trial of proceedings he had instigated against the club unless an injunction was granted.
Kelehan (33) said he had at all times behaved in an orderly fashion at all matches, obeying and respecting all directions and regulations at both home and away matches. On December 9 last, he flew down to Cork for a match against Cork City at Turner's Cross. At the entrance he and another fan were identified to gardai there and refused admission.
Hooliganism
He had later learned his name had been put on a black list of names excluded from Dalymount Park and from other grounds.
Alistair Rutherdale, counsel for Bohemian FC, told the court the club had never made,nor were they making, any allegations of criminality or hooliganism against Kelehan -- but it was its security policy to ban anyone who associated with known members or groups responsible for hooliganism.
Mr Conway said Kelehan travelled to the Cork City game with a group, or associated with a group, which included persons the club security personnel believed were previously involved in hooliganism. These were members of 'Boh's Soccer Casuals' who were involved in organised hooliganism over the past number of years.
Judge Linnane refused to grant an injunction lifting the ban and said damages would be an adequate remedy in the event of Mr Kelehan winning his case.
