FAI Chief John Delaney broke down on-air with Pat Kenny this morning while discussing the cyber-bullying of his partner, Emma English, by Irish soccer fans.
Mr Delaney stated: “It’s very hard for a man to protect his woman” before breaking down on air. The FAI Chief finished by saying that he was grateful for the good will from others on the matter.
Ms English also confirmed that she has sought legal advice over cyber-bullying from Irish soccer fans.
Over the weekend, Ms English posted a statement to Facebook regarding the incident. She told Pat: "I have sought legal advice. I feel very strongly about cyberbullying."
Here is her statement in full:
“As many of you know I haven't been very active on Facebook over the last month because I am genuinely devastated and upset that people could target me in such a cruel and vicious manner because of their opinions based around Irish soccer?
Everyone knows that Irish supporters are fantastic ambassadors for the country but I have been shocked and distressed by a small minority of so called fans hiding behind anonymous internet user names and posting vile and disgusting comments about me on the YBIG forum in recent weeks. The reason for all of this is down to my private and personal relationship with FAI CEO John Delaney.
These people, who are in a tiny minority even among YBIG users, claim to be true Irish supporters yet they involve me in a way of abusing me and calling me the most disturbing names. Is this right?
They have been screen shooting pictures and my statuses from my FB and Twitter and using it to post on a website called YBIG (You Boys in Green) which leads to me being verbally ripped apart and abused.
My private life and relationship with John is totally separate to his career.
Why should I suffer abuse at the hands of certain anonymous posters and be subjected to cyber bullying simply because John is involved in Irish soccer.
I'm dating John, his professional career is nothing to do with me.
In my experience of attending some of the games Irish supporters have been absolutely fantastic.... This seems to be a tiny group of vicious people who probably don’t represent everyone using this platform and who have never met me.
I have had to sit with my children who have been traumatised and so upset by these comments posted online about me
(Their Mother) being called a Whore, A Geebag.....
I have had to sit with my 11yr old son who cried his eyes out that people were speaking about his Mom like this.
Two of my children are of age to be on the Internet and have had text messages from their friends asking if they have seen what was written about their mother. Why should my children be subjected to this?
For anyone that knows me knows how badly this would affect me. I don't feel because I am Happy in a relationship with John that I should be publicly humiliated, that my children should suffer the upset of all of this.
Do they forget that I am only human?
Do they forget That I am someone's Daughter, I am a Mother, A Sister, A Niece?
What have I done to deserve this treatment?
What about their wives or children? How would they feel if someone decided to bullying and abuse their families online?
Why do these individuals feel they have the right to call me these disgusting names. I have been reduced to tears and been so upset by all of this.
This to me is so wrong on every level. I would really like to ask for support from everyone who knows me to condemn this rotten behaviour. It is a small group of cyber bullies who are in a tiny minority in my opinion, posting on a forum on a website called YBIG.
Can I have your opinions on these pictures below that I screen shot......I would really like a public opinion on this as I find it all very distressing right now.
Even though I don’t like having to do this, I feel I have no option but to do something about it, having seen in the past what has happened to other people in this situation. As a consequence, I have taken advice and the matter is now with my legal advisors.
The anonymous comments that have been made in recent weeks are vile and deeply distressing to me and my family. My children are at an age where they are exposed to internet comments and they have been very hurt and upset at the names and other lies which have been directed towards me. To have to sit down to talk them about this has been extremely difficult.
Cyber abuse has also been directed towards my personal facebook and twitter pages following postings on the site. Even though I don’t like having to do this, I feel I have no option but to do something about it, having seen in the past what has happened to other people in this situation. As a consequence, I have taken advice and the matter is now with my legal advisors.
The screen shots that I am posting below are just a small selection and there has been worse.”
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