'Proportionate response' needed to target individuals responsible for LOI match violence - Minister

Vivienne Clarke

Minister of State Timmy Dooley has said that he does not think “collective” punishment is appropriate for League of Ireland soccer clubs in the wake of violence at Oriel Park last week.

“We need a proportionate response to what has happened, we don’t want other clubs at a loss because of the activities of a small few individuals who attend to cause trouble, who are not part of the sporting world,” he told RTÉ radio’s Today with David McCullagh show.

Earlier this week, Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan said funding for astroturf pitches would be paused “until I’m satisfied that the League of Ireland and the FAI are going to take this seriously”.

Dooley said that the Taoiseach had set out a “proportionate and measured” response, and he understood O'Donovan’s frustration and annoyance.

“We all get frustrated when we see any infrastructure, regardless of who pays for it, destroyed just because of those that seek to vandalise public property or private property.”

Dooley added it was his understanding that there would be a disciplinary hearing on Thursday evening, from which there would be a report, an assessment and a determination of responsibility. That would set forward the direction to be taken by the FAI.

“But of course, there will be a responsibility on the club from whom the perpetrators came, to make good the damage that was done. I expect, and I say this from my own perspective, that it would be right and fitting that Drogheda United would make good the damage done.

"That they would also seek to put in place restrictions on the allocation of tickets to those that have been engaged in this kind of activity.”

Dooley also said that another issue that could be examined was investment in CCTV as a deterrent to such behaviour. “That’s the way to go. You target the individuals.

“I don't believe in the necessity for collective punishment of all clubs because many, many clubs do wonderful work as the Taoiseach has outlined, and we need to support them.

"But at the same time, we need to target those small number of individuals that are misbehaving.”

Dooley called on the FAI to ensure that Drogheda United “steps up to the plate”, and that the Gardaí have a role to play in identifying the culprits and taking the case through the judicial process.

It was a crime to possess flares and a crime to throw these flares, he said.