Kerry GAA Press Release – Tuesday 19th October 2021
On the 4th October last an OTBAM programme was broadcast regarding the appointment of the Kerry Senior Football Manager and the selection process undertaken.
This broadcast and its contents were subsequently brought to the attention of the Kerry County Executive, and it quickly became apparent that it contained false, inaccurate, and untruthful assertions regarding the integrity of the selection process and by extension the five-person sub-committee.
These false and misleading assertions were addressed and dealt with at the Kerry County Committee meeting held on Monday evening 4th October 2021 during which the Chairman comprehensively rebutted such erroneous assertions and outlined the actual context and background to the selection process.
Following this meeting the Kerry County Executive communicated to OTBAM their abhorrence that such false, misleading, and untruthful assertions were made during the broadcast.
OTBAM have since accepted that false assertions were made and have openly acknowledged that a fair, equitable and thorough selection process was undertaken.
The following is the full OTBAM retraction and apology which was broadcast on the OTBAM breakfast online programme earlier this morning and will be broadcast on Newstalk between 7pm and 8pm this evening.
OTBAM Retraction & Apology
“On the 4th October 2021 the OTBAM programme incorrectly reported that Mr. Jack O’Connor had been selected by the County Board to the role of Kerry Football Manager prior to the commencement of the formal selection process and had been given guarantees that he would be appointed before the formal selection process undertaken by Kerry County Board had been concluded.
We accept that those statements were groundless, false, and incorrect and caused distress to the Kerry County Board and to the five members of the sub-committee.
We acknowledge that Mr. O’Connor was not selected or appointed to the role until the conclusion of a thorough selection process.
We apologise unreservedly for the distress and upset caused to the Kerry County Board and to the five members of the sub-committee appointed to select the Kerry football Manager.
At the request of the Kerry County Board a donation has been made by OTB to Recovery Haven Kerry which is a cancer support charity in Kerry.
