People need to know social distancing applies to everyone, including the GAA

The legislation as applied over the summer months was a considerable hardship to the ‘Orange’ community who without resistance abided by the letter of the law.

Throughout the parading season the legislation was given a gold plating interpretation by the Orange Order and PUL community such was their regard for the law and for the safety of their fellow man.

Covid-19 does not discriminate between Protestants and Catholics or between unionist and nationalist, if it discriminates it does so on grounds of age and health.

For the law to apply equally to all communities within NI, the law must be policed by the authorities and it must be self-policed to ensure that this destructive virus does not cross-contaminate and attack vulnerable groups who may have a reduced natural resistance to fight the effects of the virus.

This was the strategy undertaken by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland in March 2020 and it is the strategy that continues up until the present.

It was therefore with alarm and despondency that I discover when I tracked some of the GAA Ulster football, hurley and camogie club finals on YouTube and Facebook (over the last two weeks) that breaches of social distancing regulation and advice breaches seemed to very apparent that the GAA in some matches.

Some of the end-of-match, final celebrations, even when they don’t go on to the pitch, can only be viewed as frightening by anyone who is at risk to Covid-19, given the hugging and embracing.

This does not just relate to Sunday’s scenes at Healy Park in Omagh, but see for example the evidence from the Dungannon Clarkes final and the Magherry v Crossmaglen GAA final (link below to the footage of the latter — at 1hr 10 min and 2hr 9min, 20 secs ).

The evidence from various videos is there for all to see; with the mixing of numerous players and supporters and the close proximity of hundreds of supporters watching the matches under semi-enclosed stands.

If Covid-19 is to be contained via proper and safe social distancing, such gatherings seem to be indicators that the policing of the existing legislation is remiss.

Covid-19 risk assessments that restricted the numbers participating in Royal Black Preceptory parades to 15 people are not being consistently or uniformly applied and/or enforced.

Dr Edward Cooke, Mallusk

Magherry v Crossmaglen

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