BY RAY SANDERSON

There is no room in the GAA for anyone who thinks that sectarian abuse is acceptable, according to Fermanagh County Board manager, Peter Carty.

Carty, who took over at the helm of the County Board in December, has been given the green light by clubs, to personally resolve the Darren Graham issue.

Carty was to meet with the player and his club, Lisnaskea Emmetts, last night, Tuesday, to see if the problem could be resolved.

Graham, who plays for Lisnaskea Emmetts, went public in the Fermanagh Herald last week about the on-going abuse that he had received during GAA games.

The 26-year-old Protestant GAA footballer and hurler said that he was giving up the sport because of what he claimed was persistent sectarian abuse from opposing teams.

Now, following a County Board meeting on Monday evening, the Chairman is actively seeking a resolution to the allegations from the young footballer.

Yesterday, the Chairman, speaking to the Herald, explained, "The County Board didn't want to do anything until it was brought to the clubs. Now they have given me clearance to deal with the matter on my own and I will have an outcome to the matter."

The Chairman, who has already spoken to Darren Graham said that he would continue to condemn the sort of abuse alleged.

"I have spoken to Darren and I must say I found him to be an absolute gentleman in my conversation," he said.

Last night they were to meet face to face.

The Chairman said that he took exception to some of the reports carried on the story in the past week that the Fermanagh County Board wasn't doing enough.

"I personally am doing everything in my power to clear the matter," he said. "I can assure everyone, including those outside the Association, that something like this is being looked into. There is no room for anyone who thinks in that way."

HOPEFUL

Carty was hopeful that the situation with Darren Graham would be resolved 'sooner, rather than later'.

He added that he was to meet with the club and player concerned last night and deal with the matter as a matter of urgency.

"I hope that it will be resolved to the satisfaction of everybody concerned, both Darren and the GAA," he stressed.

"I will be making that perfectly clear in my statement later this week," he said.

The Chairman went on, "At the moment I can say that sectarian abuse will not be tolerated within the GAA. There will be no abuse tolerated, let it be personal, between players, or players and officials or supporters.

"I will not stand for it," he declared.

He outlined that clubs and referees would be put on alert for situations that might arise in the future.

He said things like this must be dealt with if people can be named.

The County Board Chairman is optimistic that Darren will be received with 'open arms' by Lisnaskea Emmetts and the GAA.

"If ever there is any possibility of solving the situation in Northern Ireland it is through sport. I think sport is a way of bringing people together. The GAA can hold its head and say that this is the case. I can't recall a complaint on anyone receiving sectarian abuse in over 100 years of the Association," he concluded.