Mid Ulster DUP man welcomes GAA decision to suspend club games

However, the Mid Ulster representative Keith Buchanan said further answers were needed from the sporting body.

He said: “Only today new restrictions have been put into place across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. Those restrictions will have a huge impact on businesses and society. However, on the day before those regulations took effect, we witnessed people crowded into a GAA match in another part of Co Londonderry.

"I welcome the statement from the GAA that club games are to be suspended. This was the only option open following the scenes both in Bellaghy and previously following the Tyrone club final.

"Many people may see it as closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, and we await to see what impact this game might have on the spread of Covid-19 within the community."

Mr Buchanan said further answers however, are also needed from the GAA as to how this situation was allowed to happen.

"The risk assessment carried out for the ground in Bellaghy should be published. We must see the details of how many people were judged could be safely accommodated and what plans were in place to ensure they could be spread throughout the ground." he continued.

"Derry GAA should also state how many stewards were in place to control events within the ground.

"There are sports clubs across Northern Ireland experiencing severe difficulties because of a restriction on fans attending matches. Events like those in Bellaghy not only pose a huge threat to public health, but potentially pose a threat to the viability of clubs from other sporting disciplines if they set back the potential for even limited numbers of spectators to attend those games. "

Meanwhile, Mid Ulster Ulster Unionist Derek Councillor called on the authorities to take action following video evidence of a large crowd gathered at a GAA county final in Bellaghy on Sunday where no social distancing was on display.

“We are in the midst of a global health pandemic and everyone needs to realise that they are responsible for their own actions," he said.

“Last week after the Tyrone county final we saw large crowds gathering in Dungannon where social distancing was not in evidence, so the warning signs were already there.

“Yesterday’s county final between Slaughtneil and Magherafelt had to be moved from Londonderry to Bellaghy because of Covid-19 restrictions introduced in the Derry City & Strabane Council area, so safety measures should have been paramount. However, video evidence has emerged of a very large crowd of people gathered along the touchline in close proximity to each other, with no social distancing on display once again."

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