Outgoing Donegal GAA Chairman Sean Dunnion has blasted the ‘disgusting’ abuse directed at Rory Gallagher and players following their exit from this year’s Championship.
Gallagher stepped down as Donegal manager in the weeks after a 4-17 to 0-14 loss to Galway in an All-Ireland qualifier in July.
Picture: Sean Dunnion is presented with a Magee jacket by Cieran Kelly. Picture by Geraldine Diver
Social media was awash with comments as Donegal came to terms with a 15-point hammering in Sligo.
“The level of abuse at players and the former team manager, Rory Gallagher, and his family on digital and social media was absolutely disgusting,” Dunnion said in his final address as the Donegal Chairman last night.
“That shouldn’t be tolerated in a modern society. It was absolutely appalling”
Donegal PRO Ed Byrne also took aim at the online snipers.
“As we suddenly became less successful the trolling of players, management and back rooms teams went into overdrive,” Byrne said.
“These users we blocked or muted and we will continue to take this action if required. Sometimes using the word ‘trolling’ belittles what’s actually been said – at times comments can be bordering on bullying or abusive and it’s vital we protect our volunteers from this unwarranted behaviour.”
Byrne also revealed that fake pages on Facebook had been set up using the Donegal GAA name.
He said: “After a considerable amount of time, Facebook did remove some of the pages and the offending material.”
Meanwhile, Donegal’s training centre in Convoy is to be given what Dunnion termed a ‘significant’ grant – believed to be in the region of €250,000 – to aid in the building of a clubhouse and dressing rooms.
Tags: