Sinn Fein spokesperson on Sport, Chris Andrews TD, has described the testimonies given by victims of historical abuse by former coaches working in women’s football as truly shocking and called for a review of safeguarding procedures to ensure maximum protection for all players.
Deputy Andrews was commenting after revelations published in the Sunday Independent and aired on RTÉ Investigates, following a two-year investigation by journalists Mark Tighe and Marie Crowe, revealed appalling levels of manipulative sexual and emotional abuse in women’s football.
He welcomed commitments made by interim FAI CEO David Courell today and reiterated his call for anyone else affected by abuse to come forward.
He added that the legacy of this investigation must be to ensure that robust safeguards are in place so that nothing like this is ever allowed to happen again.
Teachta Andrews said:
“Marie Crowe and Mark Tighe deserve enormous credit for shining a light on the complete failure to protect women footballers. They have exposed what was a dangerous, unsafe and predatory environment that existed within women’s football during the 1990s.
“Playing for Ireland should have been among the best experiences of these women’s lives, but sadly for many their dreams became nightmares.
“That such a culture of sexual and emotional abuse and manipulative predatory behaviour existed in Irish women’s football is truly horrific, and the remarkable courage shown by the women affected in coming forward to share the awful experiences that they endured must be applauded.
“An investigation by An Garda Síochána is ongoing, and I welcome the work being done by the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland to support the victims.
“I also welcome commitments made by interim FAI CEO David Courell today, and I reiterate his call for anyone else affected by abuse to come forward.
“As well as the testimonies themselves, what was striking about the investigation was the complete lack of oversight or procedures in place for people to come forward. They were completely isolated and had nobody to turn to.
“While women’s football in this country has come a long way in recent years, it is crucially important for the safety of all involved that the maximum safeguarding procedures are in place and enforced, and that there are clear and robust avenues for people to come forward to report instances of abuse or inappropriate behaviour.
“The legacy of this investigation must be to ensure that nothing like this is ever allowed to happen again. We owe it to the courageous whistleblowers, as well as to current and future generations, to ensure that Irish football is a safe and respectful environment for all involved.”
