RTÉ Investigates Girls in Green

Oscar_Madison

In conjunction with Irish Independent- I happened to read the 5 pages of accounts in todays paper - an extremely sad accounts of alleged inappropriate sexual behaviour of certain coaches within the FAI ladies team.

Having worked at that time and before, such behaviour wasn’t confined to ladies sport- it was rife in many companies - young women hit on by older men in charge.

Apparently there’s one criminal related investigation opened by Gardai relating to this investigation.

If the programme on RTÉ later this evening is anything like the 5 page read today, it will be grim viewing- but great to hear voices heard for the first time in 25+ years

https://www.rte.ie/news/investigations-unit/2024/0706/1458624-it-wasnt-safe-life-in-the-irish-womens-squad-in-the-1990s/

Deregos.

Another new Irish sports scandal, and yet George Gibney is still walking around a free man.

https://villagemagazine.ie/time-to-nail-us-based-swimming-coach-paedophile-george-gibney/

Gusser09

Lets wait and see. From the articles it is certainly grim. Eamonn collins and mick cooke have denied all allegations.

Deregos.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122352218#Comment_122352218

He can deny all he likes but Collins has some questions to answer.

https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1458621/

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122352198#Comment_122352198

100 percent agree absolute scumbag, wouldn't count on the DPP doing much but who knows…

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2023/11/01/file-sent-to-dpp-after-garda-investigation-into-fresh-george-gibney-abuse-allegations/

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122352238#Comment_122352238

Absolutely.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122352198#Comment_122352198

Funny I was randomly thinking of this today. I swam on the circut as a child and was selected for provincial squads when I was 12 (87?) so a weekend training for times and qualifications and Gibney was the provincial squad coach. I had this really intense recall of all of us being in the changing rooms when the older girls started shouting and I look up to see one of the coaches run right through the ladies changing room from pool side to the exit. There were expletitives expressed and he was told to get the fook out :) Mad what pops into your head on an otherwise calm Sunday afternoon.

Beechwoodspark

Harrowing viewing last night - you’d have to wonder how those poor women actually played football when you see the context of what the coaches were “up to”.

Utterly sleazy carry on.

Drinking and partying every weekend and coaches going home with players - so inappropriate.

Did these men actually have an interest in coaching or was it all about access to young women for them??

I fear - mainly because of the length of time, and perhaps lack of evidence (talk of missing or non existent records) since the allegations - no criminal proceedings will arise.

Oscar_Madison

FAI media briefing this morning.

In terms of any criminal proceedings out of this, whilst a lot of the accounts were about “predatory” and “inappropriate” behaviour, there was certainly one account at least, that was clearly sexual assault in some way in my view- whether this actually gets prosecuted remains to be seen but there is a Garda investigation underway.

We’re in unusual territory here- we’re hearing about inappropriate relationships with named individuals, but not necessarily “illegal” relationships in the main.
Wonder are there other stories waiting to be told about maybe GAA coaches from 20/30 years ago?

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0708/1458744-fai/

pjordan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122353457#Comment_122353457

Whilst I was watching the program last night, without intending to diminish any of what these girls had gone through, I couldn't help but think that the totally inappropriate behaviour is being viewed retrospectively by the standards in place today rather than the (lack of) standards in place at the time.

I would imagine if you cast a microscopic focus on many sports at the time (swimming has already been referenced) including GAA (and including other youth organisations) you would find multiple examples of hearsay, assault induced trauma and even evidence of totally inappropriate behaviour. I was just thinking also that unfortunately many of these were vulnerable young women rather than minors (so no child protection issues arising) and this also predated the sort of widespread and widely accepted misogony and dismissal of woman that was evidenced say in Taoiseach Albert Reynolds standing up in the Dail and saying "That's women for ya" (Not to mention CJH prepared to ride anything that took his fancy) or Kenny Everett getting irked by critical comments by Sinead O Connor on the Late Late show and responding with snide veiled suggestions that he could derail her career, if he so wanted (not to mention uncle Gaybo's often patronising and chauvinistic approach to the likes of Sinead and Annie Murphy amongst two memorable guests)

There are a multitude of now pension aged men (and probably some women) and plenty of deceased persons also who served in positions of responsibility in the 1970-90's and engaged in totally inappropriate behaviour towards some of their charges. And again, without trying to diminish those actions, these were the same time that coaches packed 10 people into their car without seatbelts to bring them to a match or an athletic meet for the want of the cost of a bus, or that a coach had no qualms whatsoever about picking a child up, or hugging them to acknowledge a victory, or rubbing away a pain, all actions that whilst relatively innocent then, are absolutely no go areas now when framed by today's standards, just saying.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122353559#Comment_122353559

I think the behaviour of the past was predatory and would have been classed as predatory, even then - it was never acceptable by society but there was limited actions that could have been taken at the time - people just didn’t know the full extent of what was happening - as we can see in this case, many of the women thought they were the only ones impacted -without these stories we only have theoretical safeguards - these are real life examples of alleged inappropriate behaviour and illustrate why we need safeguards and codes of conduct.etc So they should be heard.

But quite simply, many of these stores have yet to be told- so to your point, there was never an opportunity to test the standards at that time simply because the victims remained silent and in turmoil.

This sort of behaviour was rife in large companies - maybe small companies too who knows - where people in authority took advantage of young females starting out in the workplace. I wonder is this the start of something greater- where people tell their stories of exploitative behaviour in the workplace- I guess a thread could be started here on boards but is reliant on enough people of a certain age to contribute to obtain an historical account.

Gusser09

Could be the next "Me too" movement. I'd say a lot of people looking over their shoulders waiting for the knock on the door.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122353690#Comment_122353690

I was thinking that myself- I reckon this will expand over time into other areas- large Irish corporates, other sports like GAA- they’re the sort of stories that have been told in Hollywood under the “casting couch” heading for many years now- we’re still seeing these stories coming out daily around on-set inappropriate behaviour 20 or so years ago or so. The difference now is, those accused of inappropriate but not necessarily illegal behaviour, are being named.

Hopefully anyone now in their early 60s onwards who was involved in such behaviour, are starting to become a bit uneasy.

pjordan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122353665#Comment_122353665

Yep, I would agree with you that predatory behaviour was always thus and was often hiding in plain sight as there was neither the tools or the inclination to address it. From my teenage years in the eighties one heard plenty of stories from both girls and boys who knew of certain people who you made sure you were never caught alone with. The majority of young people quickly developed an intuition along with an informal communication network as to how to be careful but unfortunately the vulnerable or peripheral "different" kids frequently became the victims of these predators.

I remember in the wake of the Blackrock boys revelations I dipped into Bob Geldof's contemporanious autobiography 'Is that it?' to see if there was any hint or suggestion of inappropriate behaviour. As it happens, he does reference his interactions with one of the perpetrators but the truth is Geldof was even then probably too saavy and streetwise and too much of a mouth for anyone to try anything on with him (Mind you he also documents how he lost his virginity to an older neighbour, which was also disturbing predatory behaviour, albeit with Geldof as a seemingly willing participant). However he does reference a class mate of his who later committed suicide and one would wonder was there any connection there?

We could all indeed cite cases, albeit relatively minor of incidence in our youth where we felt uncomfortable or felt that the behaviour of adults was inappropriate towards us or others in our company. Thankfully, for the majority of us, we were able to extract ourselves from such situations, but I acknowledge that not everyone was so fortunate.

Bobtheman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122353559#Comment_122353559

I agree with you. The behaviour was never acceptable. People back then knew that too but official condemnation was non existent. No culture of condemnation.

I wonder why the victims didn't complain in the last few years? The culture is different now

gormdubhgorm

When I heard the part about the black plastic bags to lose weight and players being called fat. I immediately thought of Paul Gascoigne "Gazza". He had to do that to lose weight. Even back when he was a young player for Newcastle, Jack Charlton put pressure on him to lose weight. That was the done thing regardless of gender.

As for the inappropriate relationships between players and manager with an age gap etc, it always seems blurred among the different genders. Vera Pauw (Former women's Dutch international and Irish manager) married her coach Bert van Lingen with a 17 year age difference.

Plus these days there is the issue of same sex relationships between teammates, which can result in problems on and off the pitch particularly if they break down.

csirl

All too often, people who complain are regarded as an inconvenience. There is still a sweep it under the carpet attitude in many sectors of sport - and this is more prevelent at the top rather than grassroots. There are organisations today who still dont take vetting etc seriously and try to bend the rules to pass obvious fails.

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122353457#Comment_122353457

My sister played on a very successful inter county football team during the 90s, I would know nearly all her teammates.

I would also know the men involved on the coaching management side.

I never heard a word about anything like this. Keep in mind many women/girls played inter county at 15/16 but there would always have been a cohort of older women.

I think the set up here were most of the women were strangers to each other which would be different to a club/county set up left them a little exposed.

Also their social/employment status might have left them a little more vulnerable to being exploited.

For many years I trained in the same ground with the men's team, and there was always a divide separation. i.e. the gaa field wasn't a dating opportunity.

In college, with younger teams since I've stopped playing I've never heard of anything like this. Typically there would always be much older women involved in a coaching/selection role which also probably helped to keep predators at bay.

It has probably happened over the years with gaa but I never saw it

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122355339#Comment_122355339

That’s a reassuring post- hopefully it’s a universal experience in the main - and yes, the FAS course situation was certainly unique - it’s hard to imagine wide scale exploitation would happen in a town or village without it being widely known and discussed

griffin100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122355367#Comment_122355367

I think the abuse perpetrated by the Catholic Church in Ireland shows exactly how small towns and villages could house and in some cases protect abusers. Given the close association between the church and the GAA I won’t be surprised if stories emerge as a result of the fallout from the FAI case. Predators were involved in any activity that for them close to victims.

This is an old article but it’s well worth a read to see how communities and the great and the good worked to protect abusers - https://m.independent.ie/news/the-bishop-comiskey-controversy/26056900.html

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122355367#Comment_122355367

Where's there's a power imbalance or a coach can make or break a career there's always the risk of exploitation.

Any hanger's on with creeping tendancies were quickly spotted by the women. Women in groups are usually good at that.

The only dates my sister was asked out on in a dressing room or around training was by other players😁. Gay women are probably over represented in field sports I would think.

csirl

During this era, the Irish Sports Councils standard response to anyone raising issues about any difficult topic was that they didnt want any "noise in the system" (their expression).

With this sort of attitude coming from the top, its not surprising that we've had a succession of scandals in Irish sport. Nobody, except those causing "noise in the system" feared intervention or cuts to funding for bad behaviour in their organisation.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122355450#Comment_122355450

I take your point wholeheartedly in that institutions of the day did certainly collude either formally or informally to make “issues” go away - what I will say is, if there are “stories” to be told in the towns and villages throughout Ireland, they’ll certainly get a hearing now- though I hope it will be isolated incidents at most - even then, too many.

The mention of FAS was all I needed.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122355469#Comment_122355469

I was listening to a discussion a while ago about some of the factors associated with being the victim of sexual assault and one of the most common was the absense of a father or male parental figure in the persons life. Usually the perp hones in on these victims as they don't fear any repercussions from an angry protective male. (my own father wasn't dead a month when a relative and one of his closest friends made a move in my home, whilst offering their condolances on my loss) They're a special kind of dirtbag.

celt262

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122355450#Comment_122355450

The GAA has safe guarding in place and child protection procedures for a long time.

Soccer is no where still at that level from what I can see. I've kids with two different soccer clubs and they would regularly look for helpers from the sidelines which certainly doesn't happen with the GAA club.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122355846#Comment_122355846

again whilst only an anecdote it’s a good reflection on the GAA

Strumms

we here don’t know what happened, if anything.

but as I see it the greatest obstacle to any criminal investigation leading to arrests and convictions would be the passage of time.

More than a quarter of a century has passed since the alleged incidents.

So judges and jury’s and defence teams would be VERY aware as to how unreliable recollections of details and events would be after that time. A competent defence lawyer could have a field day with any inconsistency or hesitancy or lack of being absolute in the evidence given.

Also who bears the financial burden ? The accusers the alleged perpetrators or the state ie. us citizens ? I’ve no idea but would like to know.

My problem is not people seeking justice, if they’ve been wronged, it’s waiting two and a half decades, over a quarter of a century to look for it……

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356309#Comment_122356309

This story has mostly nothing to do with “justice”- many of the accounts will be found to be consensual so no crime- at least one account will likely be found to be criminal in my view - but this story is not about criminal behaviour in the main - it’s about inappropriate behaviour, exploitation, dominance of those in a position of power over you in some way and such concepts - way before any legislation was in place -it’s way beyond “justice”- it’s freedom.

And sorry but:

“we here don’t know what happened, if anything.”

What The Fcuk?

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356331#Comment_122356331

if nothing to do with justice, yet you believe “at least one account will likely to be found criminal”..

Bit of a contradiction…

They have enabled themselves to be disadvantaged by doing nothing in the intervening years.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356350#Comment_122356350

I said “mostly” nothing to do with justice so quote accurately or don’t quote at all - Don’t even think of deflecting - you made a shameful victim blaming post above - don’t even think of quoting my posts again I want nothing to do with you

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356360#Comment_122356360

I’m not blaming victims, I’m simply making the point that not doing this sooner, and waiting over a quarter of a century to do it will put them at a disadvantage and wasn’t their best move. That’s called critical observation yes, but not blaming as you allege.

There is absolutely no victim blaming in my post whatsoever, I’m detecting rather an over emotive reaction by yourself though above. I’ll quote any of your posts, you don’t get to dictate as to how I engage in discourse on boards… Stick me on ignore if you don’t wish to see my posts.

One eyed Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356309#Comment_122356309

My problem is not people seeking justice, if they’ve been wronged, it’s waiting two and a half decades, over a quarter of a century to look for it……

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356350#Comment_122356350

They have enabled themselves to be disadvantaged by doing nothing in the intervening years.

Did you happen to read the article at all in the opening post?

Lisa Curran has similar memories from her time playing international football for Ireland while Cooke was in charge.

"It was never hidden," she says, referring to the homophobia. "I don't know why anyone would think it was hidden. It was open."

An attacking midfielder from Dublin, Curran was one of the few Irish female players in the 1990s to become an overseas professional, spending three years playing in Italy.

One of the reasons she came back home in 1997 was that she wanted to "expose" Cooke.

She believed he was homophobic, overly aggressive, and was having relationships with some of the players.

Unsuccessful in her efforts, she said she left the camp. "There was no point, and I walked away from it."

By it’s own admission, the FAI was not focused on women’s football at the time.

According to the then-CEO, Bernard O’Byrne, the Association took a ‘hands-off’ approach to the women’s game.

"Within football it was as though they operated in a little bubble over there," he said.

"There was no agenda against them, but there was no great interest in ladies football from the majority of people that were sitting around the board of the FAI. It's just the way it was in those days."

It’s difficult today, let alone in Ireland in the 90s, for anyone who is the victim of that sort of behaviour, to make a formal complaint. The idea that it’s only coming to light now as something you would have an issue with is ridiculous if you actually consider the full context of the circumstances involved, let alone the idea that anyone has “enabled themselves to be disadvantaged”. Not an unusual take on the situation though, 25 years and the passage of time doesn’t seem to have dulled that mentality.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356431#Comment_122356431

Victim blamer - it’s plain for all to see

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356309#Comment_122356309

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356360#Comment_122356360

Ireland was a different time then, plus not to try and demean the women but most seem to be from a working class background they would not have the education/background/connections to bring any court case. Even if they were brave enough at the time.

However, using throw away phrases to curtail debate such as "victim blaming" is not helpful.

It did occur to me that the investigation by RTE has attracted way more attention and views than any woman's soccer match ever has in Ireland.

If women's soccer does not move away from the equality/persecution angle women's soccer will never be taken seriously by the masses. However, I can understand why it makes a good story in the current climate such as America "metoo" and the scandal in the Spanish FA.

But the documentary had a real cheap feel to it in my view. Almost as if the women themselves were being exploited for the sake of a story. However, no doubt it could be dressed up as empowerment depending on a person's viewpoint.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356532#Comment_122356532

You do know theres a criminal investigation - but also, there doesn’t have to be a crime committed for exploitation to take place- you do understand that concept don’t you?

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356487#Comment_122356487

Nope, sorry, you are being disingenuous, I can be critical without blaming, plain for anyone without an agenda to see :)

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356584#Comment_122356584

your posts are clearly victim blaming

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356331#Comment_122356331

You're right, nothing much can come of it. The women involved were at least the age of consent. Of course there was a power imbalance and the organisations should have had strict policies in place forbidding relationships between staff and those on the course. But they didn't and thus no laws were broken. Two reputations have been trashed though and that's about the sum total of consequences.

anewme

As someone who was starting work in early 90’s, harassment was rife. I remember one lady whocomplained about a dodgy gropey client, and the boss was almost talking her out of believing it happened, as he did not want to lose the horrible hands on customer.

As a teenager, I recall a friend concerned about a dodgy uncle who had come home from abroad. She did not want ti be left with him, so I was brought along to go to Dunnes Stores.. He kept asking if we had boyfriends and what we did with them.

we went into a newsagents where a young staff member was putting prices on magazines with a pricing gun (anyone remember the prices on things) Anyway, she was bent over doing the pricing and the dodgy uncle ran right you behind her and grabbed her arse! The girl got such a fright that she nearly jumped through the roof. Your man was there laughing. We would have been 16 and he was early 30’s maybe. You just dodged the gauntlet of stuff like that.

Don’t get me started on working as a lounge girl as a teen- don’t know who was worse- staff or customers. That was scary.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356698#Comment_122356698

The dodgy uncle< I was 23 when I moved into my neighbourhood, surrounded by cousins and aunts and uncles, my father had just died and I was handed the keys. I had people in regularly helping out and offering support and my aunts husband (5o's) a big yolk of a man came over one day and sat next to me leaned on top of me and stuck his tongue in my mouth. To say I was shook would be an understatement and at the same time, I was trying to not make a big issue out of it because I was new to the neighbourhood so I took it as a misunderstanding on his part. I said it to my mother, my aunts sister which led to them falling out. The aunt felt responsible and not long after she got cancer and died. My mother and she never spoke after it. I'll never forget the tears I shed at her funeral because I felt everything was my fault and her adult children to this day make my life miserable.

As it was I had skipped the country to get out of a violent relationship so I was well versed in gbv and had I known then it was just the start of it I'd probably never have come back to Ireland. A couple of weeks later one of my fathers friends did the exact same thing. He held the carrot of a job in a local school as a promise for my obedience and took it away after I spoke to someone about what he did.

I know it's a lot and there are so many other stories that's it's hard to put into words without feeling like it's whoring for attention when all you want to do is talk about it or have someone understand. I was led to a website last year organised in connection with the drcc called we speak where you can do just that.

griffin100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122355846#Comment_122355846

That is a genuinely frightening attitude to have about child safety. It’s like the attitude that surrounded priests for years - the ‘that couldn’t happen here’ type of response to abuse.

Explain to me how child protection protocols keeps abusers away from the GAA? I’m vetted for a number of sports including GAA - not having a criminal record and doing a child protection course does not mean automatically I’m not a risk to children. I’ve seen absolute scum bags in the GAA being allowed to coach junior teams. There’s a coach involved in a team close to us who has been in and out of jail and last year got a year ban from the GAA. He’s now coaching under 16 girls football (LGFA, not GAA). My own girls won’t play matches when he’s on the sideline because of the level of abuse he gives them (ah but sure he’s passionate about the parish).

Take a look at this guy - https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/swimming-coach-who-filmed-girls-changing-jailed-for-three-years-1554452.html

I was also been involved in swimming for a long time from local to national level with my kids. I’ve done the same courses as this guy did. Child protection in swimming is much more stringent that the GAA and yet child abuse still happened. I’ve been abroad with kids swim teams where teams and coaches from the continent laughed at the extent of our child protection measures. We once shared a pool with a German squad that had one male swimmer about 13 years old and one male adult coach, with the rest being young girls. The male coach and the 13 year old boy shared a hotel room. They seen nothing wrong with this. At the same time we had to have an adult on deck at all times to monitor coach / swimmer interactions and coach behaviour. Coaches were not allowed to have lunch with kids unless a team manager was also present. Is child abuse more prevalent in Ireland?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356859#Comment_122356859

I expect that most of the safegaurding protocols implemented here are as a result of the child abuse in the roman catholic church. I don't know if it means we're more prone to it but the endemic nature of it in these institutions has left it's mark.

remember this guy?

Deregos.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356947#Comment_122356947

I'm not subscribed but I did catch the name before it was obscured with ads. I remember this nasty fcuker alright . . another swimming coach. This is what Wikipedia states about the case.

"On 4 September 1992, Frank McCann killed his wife, Esther McCann (née Leonard), and his eighteen-month-old foster-daughter Jessica McCann (who was also his biological niece) when he set fire to their family home in Rathfarnham, Dublin, Ireland. The couple had been trying to adopt Jessica, but the process had been repeatedly delayed, due to reports to the adoption agency that Frank McCann, an Olympian swimming coach, had fathered a child with a seventeen-year-old student of his who had special needs. Fearing for the damage to his reputation if it came out, McCann resolved to murder his wife and foster-child. Found guilty of both of their murders in 1996, McCann is currently serving a life sentence in Arbour Hill Prison."

celt262

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122356859#Comment_122356859

That German thing sounds as creepy as hell.

Anyway back to the GAA and the question you posed "how does child protection protocols keep child abusers away from the GAA". Well in short it doesn't not unless they have previous and and its on record.

That is why they have procedures in place and one of them is that there must be two coaches present at all times and a coach must never be on there own with any kids(s). All the procedures are there and if they are not been followed that's where an abuser may get an opportunity.

In relation to the scumbag in your club i presume that there is a female coach with the team also which is required under safeguarding. Is she standing back letting this guy give the kids abuse. Where is the children's officer in the club have you gone to them with your concerns and put in a complaint?

Hermy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122353789#Comment_122353789

I wonder why the victims didn't complain in the last few years?

Because it's incredibly difficult to do - you can never be certain how people will react when you tell them, you don't want to cause trouble, and the fear of not being believed can be overwhelming - it's a lot easier to just say nothing and bury the shame for another day.

griffin100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122357448#Comment_122357448

We were dumbfounded when we were chatting to the German swim coach about how he was able to bring a team of kids away to a Spanish training camp with no other adults present and share a room with a swimmer. We got talking to him as he asked us why we were always on deck during training sessions (Swim Ireland have a rule that there must be a parent on deck ‘POD’ at all sessions) and he was shocked at the steps we had to take around child safety. It got us thinking about why this was so important in Ireland but not so much elsewhere. My own view on the historical abuse in swimming in Ireland and the behaviour of coaches is that it’s linked to the culture that was in place in the sport years ago. Old fashion coaches were like gods, they were not to be questioned and they ruled with an iron fist. That’s mostly died out now but you still see the odd older coach in that bracket. That sense of power around young kids is not a good mix. Newer younger coaches are a different breed.

On the GAA thing it’s not my team that has the coach I mentioned involved, it’s a team from the nearest town. There seems to be a fear of him from club officials and referees that allows him get away with his abusive behaviour which has to be seen to be believed. My son plays Junior C and that’s like the Wild West but this guy at u16 girls is worse than anything I’ve seen at Junior C. At a match we were involved in where he was coaching earlier this season we were leaving as he got into a physical altercation with the father of one of his own team - I believe he had shouted at her ‘why are you so shite’ and that set her father off. In the same match at least one of his players left the field in tears and refused to do back on. Yet we played them again a few weeks ago and he was still coaching and still roaring abuse. It really is reflective of poor club oversight.

I suppose my point is child protection measures are great and are needed, but never assume that they prevent bad behaviour.

Gusser09

It goes on in plenty of other countries too though. US Gymnastics for example is just one. That German coach is an accident waiting to happen. All it takes is one innocent remark and you are finished. I can guarantee that wherever you have poor governance and poor protocols in place it just makes it easier for the unthinkable to happen and go undetected.

Ireland isn't perfect at all. You will never be able to prevent all abuses from happening but the minimum should be stopping the obvious criminals from getting involved with children and vulnerable adults.

As part of a coaching team for underage camogie I will not take a session without a minimum of one other coach present and a designated female in attendance. You just don't do it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122357453#Comment_122357453

This is really important, very often you're dealing with people in positions of power or influence and I linked to the McCann story because it reminded me how dangerous talking can be. I heard someone use the phrase once that 'hell hath no fury like a man about to be exposed', it's a very real threat that keeps people in places of fear, silence and isolation.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122353727#Comment_122353727

It's unlikely to spread into GAA since female gaelic games are run by two women led organisations LGFA and the camogie association.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122353559#Comment_122353559

Never felt comfortable with Gay after watching the anniversary special with him, Pat and Ryan. Sinead was on, telling a story about being 16 and Gay slipped his hand down the back of her skirt/trousers and pinched her arse. The guy was as bad as those he pontificated against.