BY MICHAEL BRESLIN
A 25-year old Protestant GAA footballer is giving up the sport because of what he claims is persistent sectarian abuse from opposing teams.
The former senior hurler with Fermanagh who has represented the county at U-21 football, has told the 'Herald' he is giving up gaelic sport altogether because of persistent sectarian abuse he gets from certain players in opposing teams, from three clubs in particular.
Lisnaskea Emmets championship footballer, Darren Graham, who is employed as a joiner with a local firm, the Clarke Group, stressed that he gets on well with those within the club and with people in the Lisnaskea community.
He is a son of Mary and the late Cecil Graham and was just three weeks old when his father, who was a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, was fatally wounded by the IRA while visiting his wife who was staying with her parents. He died two days later, on 11th November, 1981. Two of Darren's uncles, Ronnie (in '81) and Jimmy (in '85) were also shot dead by the IRA.
However, those experiences did not prevent him from turning up for under-age training with the Emmetts when he was 12 or from representing St Ronan's (Catholic) Primary School despite the fact he was attending the Protestant Moat Primary School in the town.
Even in those early days, he recalls, he was on the receiving end: "I got a wee bit of abuse through the ranks at U-14, U-16 and Minors (U-18), but nothing really heavy till I hit the senior ranks. A couple of games, perhaps, somebody would mention something about my father or my uncles, but it wasn't that really. It was more, 'black bastard' and, 'you're a Protestant, you shouldn't be playing gaelic sport."
"Obviously, no one in my on club calls me names, or in Maguiresbridge or Teemore. It's mainly from three clubs especially, although I think there could be several altogether where there is always something smart said along the way. I get it from their supporters as well".
Darren also played hurling with Lisnaskea seniors who, along with the only other senior club in the county, Lisbellaw, play in the Armagh League. No, he said, he had no complaints to make locally and, as far as the Armagh League went, 'people there did not know about my background'.
It was clear that the abuse and the nature of the abuse had affected him. He admitted that he had never complained to his own club, preferring instead to 'let it brush over my shoulder'.
But, he felt particularly angry on two fronts: his service to Fermanagh was undermined, and the totally wrong message that the abuse sent out to his co-religionists.
"As regards Protestants playing gaelic, I think I am the only one throughout the county that I know is Protestant who is playing that sport. Don't get me wrong: there are plenty of other players who have a Protestant mother/father, but were brought up as Catholics, but I think I am the only true Protestant.
"At the end of the day, this is happening, so why should I get that sort fo abuse when I am trying to recognise that this is a sport for both religions? This, after all, is what the GAA is trying to encourage, but why should other Protestants take it on when they're getting that sort of abuse?".
Lisnakea Emmetts chairman, Barry King, who plays alongside Darren in the Lisnaskea senior team, confirmed that Darren had not made an official complaint to the club of sectarian abuse from opposing players. But, he insisted that it was not something the club would endorse.
"There is a certain amount of chat goes on during the game and there are certain players involved in that. Is it sectarian? It is not for me to say but, if Darren is being subject to sectarian abuse, the club would definitely condemn it.
"We have detailed disciplinary procedures within the club advising members how to air their concerns and we have procedures and guidelines on how complaints are to be investigated and followed up through the County Board."
"As for Darren retiring, we would be hoping to reverse that decision. He has quite a bit to offer us and we're certainly not in the business of losing players. If there is action required, we will certainly follow it up and make representations on it. But, from the point fo view of the club, I think the less said about this the better until such times as there is a formal complaint. No player has been in touch with me."
Likewise, Deirdre Donnelly, the Press Officer for the Fermanagh County Board GAA, told the 'Herald' it was the first time she had heard of that form of abuse: "And, I know from talking to other officials, they have never been aware of it. But, certainly, if individuals feel there is an issue, they should bring it to their club and the club should take it to County Board."
Darren Graham is adamant: 'unless there is something really done about it and the County Board realise that this is all happening, I am definite, I am not putting on the shirt again'.
For the record, Rule 7(b) of the GAA constitution states clearly: 'the Association shall be non-sectarian'.
And, in Febraury this year, the GAA President, Nicky Brennan, in the course of an interview for the Church of Ireland Gazette, insisted there was nothing wrong with the GAA that would stop Protestant people joining. Indeed, he suggested the only intimidation might come from their own community.
