Pat's Claims Analysed
To find the truth of any position you need to analyse it critically. In his manifesto Pat says:
"The recent vote of no confidence in the Munster delegate on the ICU Executive was the culmination of
a number of issues that required the removal of the delegate from the executive."
Strong claim indeed! Let's see if it is vald.
Pat claims Gerry misled the Executive about 1)Ennis Congress, 2)An Agreement with ICAA,
3)Gabriel Mirza's Arbiter Registration and 4)Andrew Kildea's signature
These are examined individually below.
The Ennis Congress
Pat claims in his letter that Gerry Graham threatened John Cassidy that he would not act as arbiter
or provide equipment to the Ennis Congress if Gabriel Mirza was allowed to play.
Pat does not acknowledge that John Cassidy gave him the specific reasons why the Ennis Organisers
had decided not to accept Gabriel. These involved Gabriel's conduct at the previous Ennis Congress.
John is also unhappy that Pat and Colm's "diplomatic representations" included threats to withdraw the
ICU grant from Ennis and not to rate the tournament. Pat fails to mention any of those points in his
letter.
Pat claims that Gerry Graham misled the ICU Executive in an email where he stated that he
would act as arbiter for the Ennis Congress no matter who was playing.
Gerry actually was the arbiter for the Ennis Congress and Gabriel Mirza played. Pat does not mention
this in his letter.
John is unhappy about being misrepresented by Pat Fitzsimons in all of this.
Verdict: No evidence of Gerry Graham misleading anybody.
The ICU and ICAA
Pat's next claim is that Gerry Graham misled the ICU Executive about an agreement between the Irish
Chess Union and the Irish Chess Arbiters Associaton for accreditation of Irish National Arbiters. Pat
wasn't on the ICU Executive at that time and he bases his allegations on the fact that he
couldn't find the rules or similar documents on the ICU website although he confirms that they are on
the ICAA website.
The ICU website contains no references to Leinster League or Munster League rules.
Nevertheless the MCU and LCU exist and have their league rules on their own websites.
The definitive way to check is to ask the ICU Executive members who were involved in
those meetings. Both the Chairman and Secretary of the previous Executive confirm making an
agreement with the ICAA. Gerry Graham was in attendance at that meeting.
I also found this flyer which refers to the ICAA as
affiliated to the ICU on the ICU website!
Verdict: Pat should really check the facts before making allegations.
Continued ...
