The GAA is set to hold a special congress in Dublin tomorrow to consider the abolition of the controversial Rule 21. The clause prohibits members of the northern security forces from joining the GAA. Ulster counties are evenly split on the issue with Armagh, Antrim, Derry and Fermanagh voting for its retention and Down, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal voting to abolish the rule. The Tyrone board will not disclose its decision until tomorrow's conference at the CityWest Hotel in Dublin.
Most counties in the Republic have voted to get rid of the rule, and it now looks set to be abolished. With the new Police Service of Northern Ireland replacing the RUC, times have changed. The issue has highlighted the uneasy clash between sport and politics in Ireland. Political parties have tried to stay out of the debate, but the controversy has shown that the new police service still has failed to convince all Nationalists.
In the run up to the vote, Bryan McCargo, Assistant Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, has passionately pleaded for the ban to be dropped. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today said that he was confident that Rule 21 would be abolished.
Advocates for the abolition of Rule 21 point to Rule 18, which gives the club the ultimate decision on individual applications for membership. They say that this does away with the need for Rule 21.
GAA officials are also conscious of potential human rights challenges if members of the Gardaí or indeed any Nationalists join the new police service.
Ulster counties may remain divided but GAA President Sean McCague's decision could be widely seen as his most progressive move forward to date.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
