The law is not sufficient to deter these type of idiots.All clubs should ban anyone charged with offences like this and photos etc supplied to clubs for 'away' games to ensure they do not gain admittance. I appreciate that clubs don't like 'turning away money' but in the longer term the game would be better for it. Nobody wants their kids looking at these clowns and they deter many times more than they encourage.
I dont think there is a specific laws to charge idiots that run on to a pitch for example? Im sure there are laws that could be made fit if Gardai were willing though. I vaguely remember a chap running across the pitch in Oriel from The Shed side to just in front of Drogheda fans. He was caught and chucked out but Gardaí stated after that it was an internal matter for the club to deal with, mentioning that it happened on 'private property' so not a civil issue. Didnt make a whole lot of sense to me - ok he was caught before he got close enough to try and thump someone but if he had managed to, being on private property wouldnt have meant he couldnt be charged! Drunk in a public place, incitement etc he surely could have been charged with!? Maybe laws have changed or Gardaí are not quite as lax in attitude but there should be something more than a club ban to discourage muppets from being muppets....
As far as I am aware there is no specific law that deals with invading a sporting pitch during an event. You would say trespassing maybe, but in Ireland I think that only applies to homes and farmland. The Public Order Act also covers public events, but it's more in terms of stopping people from entering them when intoxicated, etc.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
The muppet who ran on the pitch in Tallaght against (i think Sligo) having taken his top off and enjoyed being chased by stewards was hauled in front of a judge, i read it in a newspaper which i can't find with a quick google now unfortunately.
I didnt see what his sentence was but the guards did prosecute so if they want to they can.
Last edited by sbgawa; 08/05/2019 at 11:13 AM.
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