Watch: Gardai remove anti-Delaney banner at Turner's Cross as former Cork City chairman and Sinn Fein TD removed from ground

A former Cork City chairman and sitting TD who grilled the FAI at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Transport and Sport this week was removed from Turner’s Cross by Gardaí on Friday.

Sinn Féin representative Jonathan O’Brien was one of several Oireachtas members who called for John Delaney and the FAI board to resign at Wednesday’s session in Leinster House.

A group of fans unfurled a banner critical of Delaney during the first half of last night’s 1-1 league draw with St Patrick’s Athletic and Gardaí intervened to remove the banner.

A tricolour flag with the slogan 'Delaney Out' appeared early in the game and appears to be the source of the confrontation.

It’s understood that O’Brien had no part in the creation or display of the banner but he attempted to intervene as a mediator between the two parties, before being escorted from the ground by police.

No other supporters were removed from the ground over the incident, according to media reports on Saturday morning.

Footage from the crowd showed several members of the Gardaí attempting to remove the banner from fans while play continued in the background.

“I am disappointed in the reaction of the Gardaí but I won’t be making too much of it. I will be back in Turner’s Cross next week,” O’Brien told the Irish Sun.



An Garda Síochána and Cork City have been contacted to comment.