This article is from page 8 of the 2006-09-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
EIGHT members of the Crusheen senior hurling panel returned to their dressing room after their quarterfinal win over Kilmaley at Cusack Park on Sunday evening to discover they had been robbed.
Mobile phones and wallets containing cash were taken during the game, which started at 3.30pm. The Kilmaley dressing room was not targeted. A van belonging to a Crusheen supporter, parked just outside the grounds, also had industrial tools and a CD player – valued at €2,000 – stolen.
Secretary of Crusheen GAA Club, Tony McMahon told The Clare People that the incident marred what should have been a fantastic evening for the club, after the 1-17 to 0-6 win over Kilmaley.
“We are extremely annoyed. This is unheard of. There is a lot of talk about it in Crusheen. Hopefully the players will get their phones back,” said Mr McMahon.
The players made statements to gardaí after the game on Sunday evening. County Board Chairman Michael McDonagh said the board was working with the gardaí, in an effort to solve the crime.
“It is unbelievable to think that people can target players in such a manner. We are furious. It is a very, very low act. Dressing rooms would sometimes be left open. There is a great trust there and this brings things to a new level, where security may have to be employed. We have to look at our procedures. It is a sad day we have to lock our dressing rooms. This has never happened before, in my involvement in the GAA,” said Mr McDonagh.
Ennis Superintendent John Kerin said gardaí believed the thieves were locals. “We believe a number of males and females in their late teens, early 20s, were around the area at the time. This is a particularly nasty crime, when people are out playing sport. We would be anxious to solve this,” he said.
Gardaí say they were not linking this incident with the theft of a mobile phone and €15 in cash belonging to a player from a dressing room at the Wolfe Tones GAA clubhouse during training on Friday evening.