Don’t piss in my ear and tell me it’s raining. I have no confidence in anything the league (Softball Leinster) or national governing body (Softball Ireland) says, and below you’ll see why. They twist words and spin meanings to manipulate and obfuscate, and it doesn’t bode well in the search for truth or justice.

Please note as my team currently rent grounds from Castleknock, I am abstaining from any decisions to avoid any conflict.

Steven Trundle, Softball Ireland Secretary, on Wednesday, 15 June 2022

Hi John, Further to your latest email, we are disappointed that you feel this way. As your request came within the period that an appeal may be lodged, Softball Ireland are considering the appropriate next steps to address your request.

Steven Trundle, Softball Ireland Secretary, on Monday, 11 July 2022

I think the term he was searching for, instead of “abstain”, was “recuse”. He should have “recused” himself to avoid any conflict, but clearly did not. The chances for a transparent and fair outcome are getting slimmer and slimmer, if they ever existed at all.

But wait, there’s more (or less, depending on your point of view). We’ve had an investigation! Problem is, it was a little short on evidence, so I asked for all files and correspondence, such as interviews and statements, from the investigation.

With regards to the request for all documentation, inclusive of statements: As you will have noted from the report issued to yourself & the other complainants, the Independent Reporting Officer appointed by Softball Ireland has conducted an investigation into the matter and concluded that the complaints did not reach the threshold to warrant further investigation by the Softball Ireland Board.

SI are bound by our regulations and the findings of the reporting officer and cannot act outside of the regulations in relation to the complaint. We have attained an impartial Independent Reporting Officer and see no conflict in this person or their findings.

As the complainant, the Softball Ireland Regulations do not provide you with the right to review the statements of the other parties nor will the other parties receive your statement taken by the Independent Reporting Officer. We therefore confirm we are not in position to share the documents you have requested.

Steven Trundle, Softball Ireland Secretary, in an email to John Edwards, on 11 July 2022

The Softball Ireland regulations do not deny me the right to review all files and correspondence which guided the decision of the assigned reporting officer. They’ve simply chosen to not provide them. In the absence of any evidence, it cannot be taken “on faith” this evidence exists; and without any supplied evidence, the conclusions of the reporting officer have no validity or merit. It’s all “smoke and mirrors”.

When I spoke with the reporting officer for the investigation, I took careful notes of the conversation. When I submitted my complaint, I provided screenshots of emails and text messages that coincided with the timeline of events and provided proof of my allegations of wrongdoing. All of this evidence should be available for all to see.

I don’t act “on faith”. I doubt there is any evidence (other than what I’ve provided which prove my allegations) and the investigation performed by Softball Ireland is fundamentally flawed. The conclusions arrived at, finding no fault, no negligence, and no misconduct, are not based on evidence, as none exists to support that conclusion.

Or they could allay my doubts, and show us the evidence. They choose not to.

The Independent Reporting Officer acknowledged that SL did not complete the process within the timelines set out in their Bye-Laws whilst further acknowledging that the complaint was sensitive in nature. Though the report found mitigating circumstances, it does not dismiss the fact SL did not act in accordance with its Bye-Laws, however, the Independent Reporting Officer found this failed to reach the threshold of negligence and bringing softball into disrepute as you have stated.

Softball Ireland are not privy to the details of the original complaints and further note that SL have now completed their investigations into both complaints. We understand that all parties have received notification of the SL investigation. As all parties have the right to appeal the matter to Softball Ireland, we cannot comment on the original complaints at this time.

Steven Trundle, Softball Ireland Secretary, in an email to John Edwards, on 11 July 2022

Any “complaint”, by definition, is sensitive in nature. It could be an assault, drug use, allegations of cheating or some other impropriety — it would be hard to envision a complaint that isn’t “sensitive” in nature. This cannot be used as a validation for negligent and corrupt behavior. Here “sensitive” is being used as a shield to hide behind, without having to present any evidence to support it.

It cannot be the case that Softball Leinster (SL) was found to have failed to act on my complaint, yet not be negligent. This is the very definition of “negligence”.

Again, what are these mysterious “mitigating circumstances”? Without any evidence of what that might be — because, “oh dear, it’s sensitive!” — we can never know.

Most importantly, the reason for such negligence was due to the direct interference by Alan O’Rafferty, with clear evidence of his admission, in writing, to halt action on my original complaint. “Sensitive in nature” is irrelevant, as is – for the purposes of the reporting officer’s investigation – the entirety of the content of my original complaint. The fact remains: Alan O’Rafferty, who wanted to “handle it internally”, directly interfered to deny due process of my original complaint, denying due process to everyone involved, including the accused.

Now we’re at the point where league administrators cannot be trusted to act, and will actually work against the application of due process in the most serious of circumstances…

… and the national governing body, Softball Ireland, doesn’t have a problem with that. Ouch.

In the face of such incredible incompetence and willingness to overlook such clear and obvious misconduct, there is no reasonable expectation the local league, nor the national governing body, can now effectively investigate charges of sexual harassment. Can they be entrusted to be in any position of authority whatsoever?

Bringing forward a complaint of sexual harassment to our local softball league, and bringing a complaint of negligence and serious misconduct in ignoring and suppressing that complaint, seems very much like an election in an autocracy: no one knows the rules, but everyone knows the predetermined outcome. Robert Mugabe would be proud.

It has been brought to SI’s attention that a number of comments have been posted on social media. We understand that these posts have originated from you and we would ask that you refrain from such posts whilst the matter continues to be on going (ie if there is a further appeal). We would also discourage the naming of individuals or any posts that could identify members of the organisation involved in the matter.

Softball Ireland have at all times during this process acted in accordance with the Bye-Laws. Once the process has run its course, SI will make a public statement on the matter but we would encourage you to be responsible with both your accusations and stick to the facts of the matter to ensure you do not prejudice the investigation should it need to move forward.

Steven Trundle, Softball Ireland Secretary, in an email to John Edwards, on 11 July 2022

Being quiet only serves to protect the guilty and further sweep this dirt under the carpet. The only reason the local league (Softball Leinster), appears to have done anything at all was in response to a further complaint to the national governing body (Softball Ireland). That’s when a scramble commenced, ultimately using “sensitivity”, “confidentiality”, and “mitigating circumstances” as a way to eliminate the need for transparency and integrity.

This is not the time to accept being told to “sit down and be quiet”. This system is already so prejudicial against anyone who dares to speak up, there’s nothing but good that can come of exposing the reality of this sport in Ireland: if you put your head above the parapet, be prepared for the patriarchy to get mad and try to take your head clean off.

I will not be quiet, and this issue is far from over.