An “internal conflict” at a Co Derry bowling club resulted in the police being called and the facility being temporarily closed.
Owlsports are usually associated with a relaxed environment, but things have been far from relaxed for some members of Coleraine’s Brookgreen Bowling Club in recent months.
The PSNI launched an investigation following a report of a woman being attacked by a man at the club last August.
The allegation of the attack is understood to have been linked to tensions between male and female members of the club, which was a men-only establishment prior to 2019.
Located in Coleraine town centre, the club is owned by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
The council closed the Brookgreen Club for a week last August after the assault allegation was reported.
The club has now reopened and continues to operate normally.
A PSNI spokesman confirmed that they had conducted an investigation into the alleged attack.
“A file was presented to the prosecutor, who did not initiate any prosecution. The investigation into this report is now complete,” the spokesman said Sunday independent last week.
Despite this, tensions remain within the club. The matter was discussed during a confidential matter at a recent council meeting.
No one was present at the meeting apart from members of the press Sunday independent has seen a copy of a brief report prepared for the meeting to update council members on what is happening to address issues at the club.
The report said it was the result of an “internal conflict” within the club
During the 2021 summer season, council officials had conducted a review of the “operational management of the site.”
As part of the review, the officers met with the “two parties to the dispute” to reach a resolution, described as an “internal club matter.”
“A report was produced and shared with both parties – commenting on actions taken to date and making recommendations for the future provision of trays at the Brookgreen site,” the council report reads.
“The report’s findings made it clear that the Council would continue to work with Brookgreen Bowling Club to maintain the provision of bowling on site, under the direction of its General Committee, which oversees both the men’s and women’s teams.
“Council officials continue to be in touch with both parties on this matter to ensure there is no further disruption to the 2022 summer bowling season.”
The council meeting was told that council members who had lobbied in relation to the dispute at the bowling club felt the matter should be “handled with care”.
The meeting was also informed that the Council’s Director of Recreation and Development and Head of Sport and Welfare had organized an “open meeting” to discuss the situation at the Brookgreen Club, which Council members would like to attend. No date or time has yet been set for the meeting.
When contacted by the Sunday independent Last week, a council spokesman confirmed the club had been closed from August 13-18 last year following a “reported dispute” between members, but was now operating as usual.
The spokesperson added: “The Council is handling aspects of the situation in accordance with its policy on comments, compliments and complaints and will not be making any further comments at this time.”
Brookgreen Bowling Club has been contacted regarding the issues but no response has been received.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/psni-drawn-into-internal-conflict-at-former-men-only-bowling-club-41560329.html PSNI involved in ‘internal conflict’ at former male-only bowling club
