Rory Gallagher Files High Court Lawsuit Against The GAA & Its President Jarlath Burns

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 08:27

By Eoin Beatty

That's according to today's Irish Independent

Gaelic football coach Rory Gallagher has officially filed a High Court lawsuit against the GAA and its president, Jarlath Burns.

According to the Irish Independent, a plenary summons detailing a claim for damages was recently submitted to the High Court.

The action also seeks an injunction to prevent Mr. Burns or any GAA representatives from influencing clubs to refrain from hiring Mr. Gallagher as a coach or manager.

The legal dispute began after Mr. Burns intervened in Mr. Gallagher’s potential appointment as coach of the Naas senior football team earlier this year.

When rumors of Gallagher’s connection to the club surfaced in January, Mr. Burns emailed club officials expressing concerns about domestic abuse allegations made against Gallagher by his former wife, Nicola.

The club later announced that Mr. Gallagher would not be joining their coaching staff.

Mr. Gallagher has denied the allegations and referenced two decisions from the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service, which concluded there was "no case to answer."

The Irish Independent says Mr. Gallagher has threatened legal action unless Mr. Burns retracts the email, but the GAA president has maintained his position.

Mr. Gallagher stepped down as Derry manager in May 2023 after his ex-wife made serious domestic abuse allegations against him in a social media post. He was also "temporarily debarred" by the GAA in September 2023, following a request from Ulster GAA for an independent panel to investigate the allegations.

Mr Gallagher challenged his ban and the Disputes Resolution Authority, an independent arbitration body, found in his favour.