THREAT TO CURB CASH ISN'T HOW TO TAKE ON FAI

IF IT was a game of football, this one would have ended in a dour stalemate.

- BY MARK McCADDEN

As members of the Oireachtas lined up to take their shots, they were repelled by a blanket defence.

“Due to legal advice ...”

“I know it will be frustrating for you as it is for me, but we can't answer these questions ...

“We are simply not prepared to endanger a Garda investigation ...”

The FAI put everyone behind the ball and, while one senior official acknowledged that the optics were poor — no one enjoys a backs-to-the-wall performance - they simply were not in a position to answer questions about specific cases.

Many of the Oireachtas committee questions were then rephrased in general terms, at the behest of chair Alan Kelly, but it was hard not to feel for the Abbotstown side at times.