Top GAA players banned over hotel rampage Thursday February 07 2008 A group of top GAA players have been told they will never play for their county again after trashing their hotel rooms in a drink-fuelled rampage. Terrified guests at the plush hotel were woken in the early hours as six under-21 footballers ran amok. The players smashed furniture, damaged picture frames and threw other items around, causing damage worth several hundred euro. The hotel was unavailable for comment, but it a senior GAA official who was in the hotel said the players had been forced to pay for the damage. The group returned to their hotel rooms at about 3.30am, with some alcoholic drinks. Shocked witnesses said children were heard crying as the night porter was alerted. Team management and county board officers who accompanied the team were awoken by hotel staff, and immediately set about trying to calm the situation. Kettles A senior member of the county set-up said: "Electric kettles in the rooms were squashed against the walls by been jumped upon, while pictures and frames were also pulled from the walls and broken. Furniture in the room was also considerably damaged. "It was devastating for us to see the antics of these players. It was even more devastating to hear young children roaring and crying with fear as parents tried to comfort them. "It was total carnage of four rooms by about six players. "The remaining players did not know anything of what had gone on until they arrived at breakfast that morning. Expense "We should have put them in the bus and brought them home even at that hour, but that would have been unfair on the innocent players." The county source said: "We refused to accept the financial responsibility. The players involved would not admit who was really responsible. As a result they had to make good the financial loss to the hotel from their own resources. The players had to meet the expense. "The hotel also had to return monies to patrons who had paid for a weekend stay in the hotel. The players involved also had to meet that financial outlay. It was a sad day for our GAA team but it's not the first time this has happened with inter-county teams." The county's GAA officers would not comment further on the matter. However, the spokesman said: "No doubt the matter will be discussed at the next County Board meeting. "They will decide what type of investigation will take place. But you can be assured the players involved will not wear the county colours again. They brought disgrace on themselves, their parents and the GAA. It cannot be tolerated."