A Co Tyrone GAA club has has appeared in court charged with breaking gambling laws after it ran a competition it ran to win a holiday home.
The club sold more than 5,000 tickets in a fundraising draw in 2021, with the winning prize as a three-bed mobile home.
St Malachy’s GAC, Edendork, based just outside Dungannon, had been subject to an investigation into the draw two years ago, with the Public Prosecution Service deciding to bring charges against the club.
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The club faces four charges, including three charges of contravening requirements of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements Order 1985 as well as one charge of advertising a lottery contrary to the same law.
The managing director of a local engineering firm also faces the same charges in relation to the case, Belfast Live reports.
Darragh Cullen of Edge Innovate, with an address of Bush Road in Dungannon, faces the same four charges in relation to the draw.
In a sitting of Dungannon Magistrates Court on Friday, defence solicitors for the club and Cullen applied for an adjournment to the case.
Counsel for Cullen submitted that it wasn’t a straightforward case, and that the legislation has 'a certain nuance and complexity that will take significant time to correspond with the PPS.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan agreed to adjourn the case for six weeks, with both parties to appear before the court again on 12 May.
A statement released by the Co Tyrone club on social media on Thursday night said it would 'strenuously challenge' the charges against them.
“Edendork GAC carried out a fundraising initiative two years ago to raise funds for much needed club development. The initiative has been under investigation," the club stated.
“Recently, we have been informed that the Public Prosecution Service intends to prosecute the Club with regard to this fundraiser.
“We intend to strenuously challenge this charge. Edendork GAC will be making no further comment until this process has been concluded.”
More than 5,000 tickets were sold at £25 per ticket in the club development draw to win the three bed mobile holiday home.
The holiday home was won by a Co Armagh man following a live draw in April 2021.
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