Elisha McCallion (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As has been done by other Members, I, too, send my condolences to Jack's family, but I want to speak about a living soccer legend. James McClean is an outstanding young man. He is a father, a son, a brother and a husband. James McClean is proud to be Irish. He is proud of his roots in Derry and he is loved by the people of Derry where he grew up. He is also an outstanding soccer player for his team, Stoke City Football Club, and for Ireland. He is an inspiring role model for many young footballers and has dedicated his life to the sport.

James McClean wears the green jersey for Ireland and its people on and off the pitch. As many Members will know, he has captained our country. He is a republican and a united Irelander, and why would he not be that? However, for almost ten years he has been on the receiving end of a vicious, vile campaign of sectarian abuse, online and off-line, similar to that we are seeing in respect of the racist abuse of black players. However, the big difference between James and those experiencing racist abuse is the support they are getting from their clubs, the soccer authorities and society in general. As he said this week, James has had little to no support from the soccer authorities, other players and society generally. I want to make it perfectly clear. James has my support, Sinn Féin's support, support from the people of Derry, and from his fans in Ireland.

Yesterday, in an interview on Radio Ulster, Niall McGinn supported James and his call and spoke out about the sectarian abuse he has experienced while playing football. I am sure James appreciates Niall's support. Niall has also called for support from the soccer authorities and for James and other players like them. It is outrageous in this day and age that victims of such vile abuse have had to go to the public to ask for such support. James is entitled to support from the FAI, he is entitled to support from all of us, he is entitled to support from his team mates, and he is entitled to support from wider authority.

I call on the Members of this Seanad to show their solidarity and send their support to James, Niall and to anyone else who is a victim of such abuse. I call on the Minister with responsibility for sport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to lead on this issue and to work with the FAI, the Irish Football Association, IFA, and anyone else necessary to give James, his family and anyone else experiencing such vile discrimination the support they deserve.