The UCD Windsurfing Club have been found to be in breach of safety regulations and have organised events without the support of the Athletic Union Council (AUC), the University Observer has learned.
During a club trip to Galway city which was scheduled from the 1st to the 3rd March, the club's committee were informed, via email from the AUC, that they were in breach of the council's regulations for garda vetting and safeguarding. As such, the AUC wrote that "UCD sport [did] not approve of the activity/trip taking place."
According to the regulations as stated in the AUC Away Trip Rules: “those designated by a club to lead any trip must have completed Garda Vetting with the AUC and, must at a minimum, have attended Safeguarding 1 training. Evidence of such training to be uploaded to the UCD Infohub Grant Document Upload System." Minutes from the Club's committee meeting show that a committee member was "to organise garda vetting" before the following meeting, which took place on the 2nd November 2018. The AUC contacted the club Captain Ronan O'Shea, on 1st March 2019 and informed him that as "there is no proof of required vetting for any travelling committee members which is in direct breach of AUC rules."
In a committee group chat seen by the University Observer, Captain Ronan O’Shea said “wouldn’t worry too much to be honest, don’t think we told them about any of our trips last year, just make sure nobody dies." The committee chose to continue with the trip as planned.
When approached by the University Observer for comment over the breach in regulations, the AUC refused to comment, stating that “the AUC does not comment on any disciplinary matters that may or may not exist involving any club."
The UCD Windsurfing Club had not replied to requests for comment at the time of publishing.