Lenihan condemns racist abuse of player

MINISTER OF State for Integration Conor Lenihan yesterday condemned as "despicable" the racist abuse alleged to have been suffered by a young GAA player at a junior club match in Carlow last week.

Mr Lenihan said he had received assurances from the GAA that the incident, which is said to have taken place during a county under-14 football semi-final between Éire Óg and their neighbours from Carlow town, O'Hanrahan's, would be thoroughly investigated.

Éire Óg club player Teboga Sebala (12), who is originally from Nigeria but has been living in Carlow for four years, is reported to have been the subject of persistent racist taunts by several spectators during the match.

Mr Lenihan said: "This kind of abuse is totally unacceptable and this kind of behaviour needs to be stamped out whether on the football field or elsewhere."

Mr Lenihan said: "When it comes to racist attacks, Ireland falls mid-table in comparison to other European countries but even one racist attack is one attack too many . . . I would be very concerned if racist behaviour of this nature were to deter people of an immigrant background, especially young people, from participating in sport because such participation is a key element in the integration of newcomers into Irish society."