League of Ireland Premier Division side St Patrick's Athletic President Tom O'Mahony "appealed to fans to refrain from protesting outside the homes of local politicians" as plans to build a 12,000-seat stadium in Inchicore "look set to be rejected," according to RTÉ. In April, the club announced proposals to build a state-of-the-art Richmond Arena to be part of an overall City Development Plan that would include new houses, a shopping complex and an underground car park. It is now anticipated that 500 homes will be built on the site instead. St Pat's Dir of Football Ger O'Brien labeled it "a nightmare waiting to happen." A petition to support St Pat's plans for the area was set up Friday "and has well over 2,000 signatures to date." On Saturday, O'Mahony released a statement "welcoming engagement with politicians but urging supporters to do so in the appropriate manner." He said, "It has been brought to our attention that some of you may be planning to show your opposition to the Dublin City Council plans for St Michel's Estate by protesting outside the homes of local politicians or at the launch of the plans next Monday. We strongly appeal to supporters NOT to do this. It will not help our cause and in fact is likely to damage it" (RTÉ, 7/22).
