Paul Dillon, the man for whom Donegal club Naomh Colmcille held a fund-raising soccer tournament which led to the GAA banning them from all adult competitions for two months, has labelled the fallout a "disgrace and a shock".
The Newtowncunningham-based club were hit with a suspension when news emerged they allowed one of their pitches to be used for the fund-raising event in aid of local man Dillon, who has been diagnosed with motor neuron disease.
It was deemed that they had hosted an ‘unauthorised tournament’, a violation of Rule 6.40 in the GAA’s Official Guide.
Yesterday a statement from Donegal County Board said that the club is not currently suspended from all adult competitions, though it added that "the findings of an investigation has recommended suspension for eight weeks - this is the minimum period of suspension for holding an unauthorised tournament. Due process shall take place and CLG Naomh Colmcille have the right to prove these findings incorrect or mis-applied".
The club have intimated that they will appeal.
Dillon himself called for "a bit of common sense", and urged whoever reported the holding of the tournament to the GAA to consider his predicament.
"I just think it's a total disgrace and a shock," he told Miriam O'Callaghan on RTÉ Radio 1's Today programme.
"This ban should be overturned for the sake of the players and the whole community, the hard work they've put into this fundraising for me.
"I was involved with Naomh Colmcille for about 15 years. I played with them and I managed underage teams for a long time there. Some of the senior players on the team now that's talked about being banned, I'd have coached them when they were Under-12s.
"A bunch of lads I'd have run about with all my life decided to come together and raise some money so the home could be made wheelchair accessible. The pitch it was played on, it was a local soccer pitch. The GAA have it leased. But it is the parish grounds as well.
"I'd just like a bit of common sense to prevail. I knows rules are rules but in situations like this, surely they can slide the rules in some way.
"I'm not too bad at the minute, I'm in good form and trying to stay positive every day. It gave me and my family a whole lift. It was so overwhelming, how much effort was put into it by the community.
"Whoever reported this, I'd like them to come and see how I get through everyday life at the minute. Maybe they'd change their mind on this thing."
Dorina Friel - a club member and former chairperson of Naomh Colmcille - outlined how the fund-raiser came about.
"Paul got devastating news," she said.
"Our local councillor Paul Canning came to the community and put out on the Facebook page that we were going to hold a big meeting and try to get funds raised. Rather than doing something that went on and on and on, we decided we'd accumulate a few different events and get it all put together to raise as much as we could as quick as possible.
"I know a lot of people are saying soccer was played, there was a mixture of two sports played that day. All we did was facilitate the grounds. It is part of the community. We opened up the grounds. The ruling that's come down against us is Rule 6.4 - that we hosted an unauthorised tournament.
"We did not host the actual tournament. It was the fundraising committee that came and asked us for the facility.
"We don't have anything else in this parish that would [accommodate] such big turnout of people. For the safety and health and well-being of people we offered the facility and offered the clubhouse for making tea and and sandwiches.
"We've no complaint against the County Board. An official complaint was made and they have to follow the procedure. Nobody knows [who made the complaint]. Whoever made the complaint, they have to live with their decision. We as a parish and as a community, we don't hold grudges. Life is too short for that. Paul will tell you that."
