IS-Online have been advised not to comment on the events at Tolka Park on the night of September 18, last season. Instead we will reproduce this article from another site, eircomleague.net to remind our supporters to be extra careful on any visit to Shelbourne FC. The safety of our travelling support is vital to Independent Saints S.C. and surely the time has come for the FAI to stand up to the hoodlums and stamp out the opportunity for violence that seems to exist at certain clubs.
From Eircomleague.net 18.9.01
Shelbourne's controversial secretary Ollie Byrne may have landed himself in hot water after he clashed violently with Derry City fans at the meeting of the two clubs at Tolka Park last night.
Derry's supporters paraded a flag aimed at former player Peter Hutton, who moved to Shelbourne during the summer. "Pi££a = Juda$" was written across the flag.
Prior to the match, Byrne pleaded with Derry supporters to take the flag down; when they refused to do this, he ripped the flag and asked Gardaí to forcefully remove the flag, but they refused to do so.
Niall Conway, editor of Derry City Online, explained: "That wasn't enough for Ollie - undeterred, he came back at the start of the second half, and tried to forcibly remove the flag.
"He was prevented from doing so by about 20 Derry supporters, so Ollie and his [moustached] henchman then started throwing punches. He refused to back off, despite attempts by other Shels officials to drag him away, and in the end he had to be escorted away by the [Gardaí]."
Conway added that "Shels fans were apologising to us on the way out of the ground, as they were disgusted at Ollie's behaviour."
FAI chief executive Brendan Menton is understood to have witnessed what happened, and Byrne could face the wrath of the FAI over his behaviour.
The Dubliner has been in trouble with other clubs on many occasions. Last season, he gave two-finger salutes to Galway United fans in Terryland Park which very nearly resulted in crowd trouble on the night.
Byrne allegedly threw punches at several Derry supporters, one of whom is believed to have been as young as 15 years of age.
copyright eircomleague.net
League of Shame? Should the FAI ask the legal affairs committee to investigate the allegations against the Shelbourne Boss? Or will they leave him be once again? Have YOUR say in our fans' forum
•
Back to the Home page
