Search icon

World of Sport

26th Sep 2015

Gardai investigating after Irish international basketballers racially abused online

Basketball Ireland confirm an investigation is underway.

Kevin McGillicuddy

Never ever underestimate people’s capacity to be ugly and very, very stupid online.

Basketball Ireland have confirmed to SportsJOE that they have contacted An Garda Síochána over racist abuse directed at Irish U15 basketballers online.

A basketball governing body spokesperson has also confirmed to SportsJOE, this afternoon, that an internal investigation is being launched into sickening comments that appeared on the website ask.fm in the last number of days.

The poster has aimed his abuse at Ireland U15 development players Aston Kisuka, Sean Jenkins, James Beckom, Kris Arcilla, Max Amadasun, and Sinaly Drame

We have to warn you that the language may cause offence.

TEXT

One of the players in question had this response to the disgusting comments on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/sean_sean10j/status/647156614001205248

President of Basketball Ireland, Gerard Kelly has condemned the abuse on the association’s website:

“In recent days we have become aware of an outrageous message posted anonymously online concerning some of our our underage players.

Our Secretary General has begun an urgent investigation which involves the site administrators of ask.fm and the Gardai. We are determined to unmask the coward or cowards behind this message. We urge anybody with relevant information to contact the secretary general on bobyrne@basketballireland.ie in total confidence.

We, the members of Basketball Ireland, would like to remind our community that there is no room for discrimination in our sport.

https://twitter.com/conormeany/status/647436397901709312