Gary Walsh, the leading scorer across all four divisions in the National League, has been suspended from the Laois squad ahead of Saturday's Division Four final against Carlow in Croke Park.
A member of the Laois county board confirmed to Balls that Walsh has been "suspended", but refused to say for how long the suspension will last. Laois have yet to publically announce their team for that game, although the county board say that it has been submitted to Croke Park.
The suspension comes days after Walsh tweeted his reaction to the verdict of the Belfast rape trial, in which he called for the complainant in the case to be criticised in newspapers. He deleted this tweet hours later, following a tweet from Laois GAA in which they said that "Laois GAA wish to disassociate themselves from tweets or comments made by individuals on Social Media. Such comments are their own personal opinion, on their own personal accounts, and in no way reflect the views of Laois CLG, main sponsors MW Hire and other associated sponsors".
Laois GAA wish to disassociate themselves from tweets or comments made by individuals on Social Media. Such comments are their own personal opinion, on their own personal accounts, and in no way reflect the views of Laois CLG, main sponsors MW Hire and other associated sponsors.
— Laois GAA (@CLGLaois) March 28, 2018
Earlier that evening, Laois' main sponsors MW Hire disassociated themselves from Walsh's views.
Mo Chara, MW hire group as @CLGLaois wish to disassociate themselves from players views. Mw Hire is main sponsor of laois GAA for several years and does not condone any of these comments made by players.
— MW Hire Group (@mwhire) March 28, 2018
These tweets were followed by an apology from Walsh, saying that the tweet was "ill-judged on my behalf in this regard", adding "it is a heated and sensitive topic for all concerned which has already attracted too much public attention for those concerned.”
That apology, however, has since been deleted, and Walsh has also obscured Laois' shirt sponsor from the avatar on his Twitter page.
Laois face Carlow at Croke Park on Saturday afternoon, with throw-in at 3pm.
