Minister slams ‘taxpayers’ money going up in smoke’ at new Louth soccer pitch

The Sports Minister has paused funding to all astro turf pitches in the League of Ireland after a new pitch in Co Louth was damaged immediately after it was opened.

Flares were thrown onto a brand-new astro turf pitch at Oriel Park in Dundalk by Drogheda fans as the two Co Louth sides faced off in the League of Ireland on Friday.

Patrick O’Donovan, who was at the match, said he was to meet with representatives of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the League of Ireland this week about the issue.

He said he had also requested a meeting with the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan to see what action can be taken to stamp out such behaviour at soccer matches, including a request to review legislation in place in the UK.

He said half a million euro in funding had been given for the upgrades to Oriel Park, which was “less than 20 minutes from the formal opening ceremony and the next thing, it was on fire”.

“The field looked like it was pock-ridden with badger holes at the end of the match the other night, and all these lads think it’s hilarious,” he told RTE Radio.

He said it was “a disgrace”, “thuggery” and saw “taxpayers’ money literally going up in smoke”.

“We’re not going to be doing this a second time, to be quite honest about it,” he said, adding that his department would not be paying for repairing the damage.

“I’ve asked the Department to pause all astro turf investments into League of Ireland clubs until I get what I say is a sufficient response from the FAI and the League of Ireland, not only to protect our investment but to protect innocent patrons as well.

“Unfortunately now, it is a plague on all their houses.”

He said it was not his first time attending a League of Ireland match and said he had been to “a fair few” as minister.

He encouraged locals and football fans to report information they have about who was responsible for the damage at Oriel Park to the gardai.

“There was plenty of people in that group of fans who know exactly who these people are, and I’m calling on them today and their representatives to name these people to An Garda Siochana so they can be arrested and brought before the courts.”

He said he wanted the football authorities to provide assurances on what would be done to “root out” the people responsible, and said they should face lifetime bans or possible prosecutions.

He said if he is told nothing can be done, he would look to legislate against it.

He added: “They had this scenario in England a number of years ago where they had to separate football hooligans from each other to protect ordinary decent patrons who just want to go see a match.”

He said condoning the actions by saying it was “part and parcel” of soccer matches was “part of the problem”.

“If we have to make it a criminal offence, we’ll do that,” he said.

He added: “If a woman’s hair had been set on fire and she was burnt within an inch of her life we’d have a different conversation this morning.

“This has to be stopped. And the only way this can be stopped is if the soccer authorities in Ireland stamp it out, literally.”

A spokesperson for the FAI said: “The League of Ireland strongly condemns the actions of a minority of supporters at last weekend’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fixture between Dundalk FC and Drogheda United FC at Oriel Park.

“We are currently reviewing the Match Delegate report from the fixture and all available evidence. As part of this review, an investigation is underway into incidents that occurred at the fixture in collaboration with both Clubs, An Garda Síochána and all stakeholders. Further information will be supplied once this process has been completed.

“The League of Ireland welcomes recent Government investment in facility development and will continue to work closely with the Department of Sport and Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan on continued facility improvement in the League.”

An Garda Síochána said in a statement it “continues to engage with the event organisers”.