Three members of a Louth GAA club were harassed by at least 150 phone calls within 48 hours demanding money for reportedly unauthorised work in what the club say is a tarmac scam.
Naomh Fionbarra and St Anne's in Togher say the club was a victim in what they described an "elaborate and devious" scam to try and intimidate the committee to pay out an "exorbitant" amount of money for unapproved and shoddy work.
The club say they finally paid a much less amount to get "make it go away," and stop the threatening phone calls, made from various numbers and callers in the UK and Northern Ireland which were frightening volunteers who had given years to the community.
The scam has also led to a warning by the Meath GAA county secretary to local clubs after an approach was made by callers to try and tarmac the grounds of Slane GFC before Christmas.
Naomh Fionnbarra and St Anne's club chairman Mark McArdle said thousands and thousands of euro was being sought from the club for what he described as "a bit of black paint with a scattering of stones".
"This happened on January 15th and unfortunately the gates of the grounds were open because there were volunteers doing a bit of work around the club, as there normally is," he told LMFM radio's Late Lunch.
"A gentleman pulled into the grounds in a fancy jeep and told one volunteer that he had a load of tarmac from a job up the road that was cancelled, and he was going to have to dump it unless we were interested in getting the work done at a very low price.
"The volunteer said that it might be something we'd be interested in but that he wouldn't have the say so to give the go-ahead. So he started ringing around and most of us were at work, so by the time we knew what was happening, a truck had arrived, and the work had been started.
"These contractors said that they had been given the go-ahead for the work but no club works like that. For any job, clubs have to put jobs to tender and quotes obtained and contracts exchanged before anything happens as we, as a voluntary club, are so careful with money. We have to be.
"And we generally don't have to go out of our way for a reliable company as there are so many in the area who are huge supporters and sponsors of the club.
"They had said they would charge €8 a meter or yard or something like that.
"They spread this 'tarmac' over a wide area and started multiplying €8 by an awful lot of yards and meters and the costs ended up being thousands upon thousands. I saw the job and it looks like a layer of black paint with a scattering of stones.
"There was no digging out, no drainage, no filling. Nothing.
"The minute the job was done, they passed on bank details and demanded payment and that's when the pressure started.
"They got hold of mobile numbers of three club members and that's when the calls came, very forcible and very quickly. It's hard to estimate because some calls were blocked and others were hung up but I'd say in the region of 150 calls were made to three club members in the space of 48 hours."
They added: "There was no reasoning with them. They claimed they were given the go-ahead. Saying we might be interested does not give anyone the go-ahead.
"We were in contact with gardaí who were great in advising us and working with us but they said it was a civil matter.
"In the end, we felt we had to make some payment to make it go away for those people on the frontline who were subjected to these phone calls. They were the ones being told that these men would have to come to their homes because they were holding them responsible.
"We wanted to make sure that the members weren't being hounded or frightened anymore so we paid them what we deemed fair for materials and two hours work, and just like that, once they were paid, it all ended.
"We raised the issue because we want to warn other clubs and indeed individuals to be careful. If you are approached and are suspicious, tell them forcibly no. Don't enter into any conversation and if you are fearful, tell them you are recording the conversation on the phone so they can't bend your words. And ring someone. There are always people to help."
Meath GAA Secretary Ciaran Flynn advised clubs in the county to be 'vigilant' and sent out a step by step process for clubs to follow when considering getting any work done.
He sent out the advice after learning of the club in neighbouring Louth and of an approach to a Meath club before Christmas, though declined to name both clubs.
"Be vigilant. Community groups looking out for each other is our strength but our trust in others is also our weakness. Seek support. So many will help you and follow protocol."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Slane GFC confirmed that they had been approached before Christmas by men in a van who wanted to lay tarmac at the club and were quite insistent on doing so.
"A van with Northern Ireland registered plates pulled in before Christmas and tried to convince the caretaker to give them the go ahead for the job.
"However, he rang the chairperson who rang another member of the club for advice and they came across the men parked outside a local pub near the grounds
"The men had left the club temporarily and the caretaker was advised to close the automatic gates so they couldn't gain access.
"The men tried to tell the club member that they had received permission from the chairperson and he had to be very adamant with them in telling them no."
"A similar van pulled up at a construction yard in the area after Christmas with the offer of tarmac but was given short shrift too."
