Galway GAA’s financial culture labelled as ‘rotten to the core’

THE revelations of mis-use of Galway GAA credit cards and other matters pertaining to the governance of the county’s finances has been met by anger by delegates, with one describing the culture as “rotten to the core”.

One of the most outspoken delegates to attend last Monday night’s annual County Convention was Padraig Pearses Paul Bellew, who was a member of the internal audit committee appointed to investigate Galway GAA’s finances.

Although pleased that the independent findings in the Mazars Report initiated by Croke Park correlated with those of Galway’s internal audit committee, Bellew said the recommendations from both reports now needed to be implemented.

However, he questioned if the management structure in its present guise was capable of delivering change. “I don’t trust that it is on what I was exposed to over the last few months,” stated Bellew.

He said he was aware there was more damning data in the findings but recognised this could not be released due to legal reasons. “I think the culture is rotten to the core. I don’t hold back on that.”

Bellew accepted members of the management committee – later revealed to be Pat Kearney (County Chairman) and Michael Larkin (Hurling Chairman) – had sought to bring these poor practices to the attention of Croke Park in early 2017 but it was not until Michael Burke was appointed Treasurer that certain parties were “brought kicking and screaming to the table”.

The Pearses delegate praised the courage of these officials to stay the course, acknowledging this was done in the face of those “who would rather sweep it under the carpet”.

He said he had serious concerns over Croke Park’s failure to act in early 2017 and he questioned those charged with overseeing Galway GAA’s finances, including auditors DHKN, for not bringing matters to light sooner.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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