MEP disturbed and upset over hurler’s Foyle pride abuse revelations

A STORM has erupted between the Gaelic Athletic Assocation (GAA) and Irish Labour MEP Phil Prendergast after Cork hurler Dónal Óg Cusack’s address to the Foyle Pride festival at the weekend in which he spoke of the homophobic abuse he suffered from one supporter.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Aug 2012, 12:08 BST

Ms. Prendergast said: “I watched Donal Og Cusack’s speech at this weekend’s Foyle Pride Festival on Youtube and I was moved by his honesty and courage. As Ireland’s first ‘out’ inter-county GAA player, I think he is a great role-model for young people all over the country, both gay and straight.

“However, I was disturbed, and if I’m truthful, upset, when he described the verbal abuse he suffers at the hands of a small cohort of supporters when representing his county.

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“He described individuals with megaphones shouting homophobic and slanderous insults at him while he was playing, which obviously begs the question, what is the GAA doing to protect and encourage LGBT players at both inter-county and local level?”

The GAA hit back saying Ms Prendergast’s statement was “completely and utterly over the top” and that she had honed in on a very small element of the speech.

“We’re very disappointed that a public representative would choose to hone in on one specific incident in what was a very long speech by a valued member of the GAA and a person of very high standing among his peers in the Gaelic Players’ Association,” a spokesman responded.

“We don’t have a widespread homophobic problem in the GAA or at least one that I’m aware of. To equate it with soccer hooliganism, as she did, and make reference to CCTV is completely and utterly over the top.

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He continued: “Our full-time Integration and Inclusion Officer works hard to ensure that the message gets out that our games are for all people of all creeds and none, of all ethnic backgrounds, and for all people regardless of their sexual orientation.

“If someone brings to our attention that somebody is behaving in such a way, they will be tackled and challenged by our own stewarding team and also by An Garda Síochana who are present at all our games.

“We wouldn’t be backwards or slow to react and respond to behaviour of that nature, behaviour that has no place at any of our grounds or any of our games.”

Related topics:FoyleMEPLabour