Cyrus Christie says gardaí ‘did nothing’ about racist abuse he suffered online
REPUBLIC of Ireland defender Cyrus Christie has accused gardaí of “doing nothing” about the racist abuse he suffered online.
The Fulham right-back revealed his distress after several instances of racist abuse, including the creation of a petition calling for him to be lynched.
In an interview with Off the Ball AM, Christie (27) said he viewed the petition as a threat to his life and spoke of his frustration after reporting the incidents to gardaí.
“When you’re making petitions for people to get lynched, that’s a threat on your life,” Christie said.
“The Garda really didn’t understand where I was coming from, they really didn’t do anything about it. Even when I sat down and spoke to them, they didn’t understand.”
Christie was subjected to vile abuse online after the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup playoff defeat to Denmark in 2017.
The defender revealed he left a meeting with gardaí early because he “just knew they wouldn’t do anything”.
“They (gardaí) were like, ‘I just don’t believe someone in Ireland could be racist.’ You’re going to get racist people everywhere. I’m not trying to say the whole country was racist but, you have everything you need there, the evidence, what people are saying. I believed it was enough for them to do something.”
Speaking about the online abuse he received, Christie said it took fellow player James McClean highlighting it for it to be condemned. Christie said, “In that case, it was there for everyone to see, there was obviously a massive reaction.
“But, like I said, the reaction wouldn’t have been the same if I’d come out and said it.
“It was James McClean that came out and said it. The weirdest thing was, his profile was there for everyone to see.”
“And then obviously when the Garda came in and supposedly said they were going to deal with it, and done nothing,” he added.
“The craziest thing was the police officer called the guy up on his phone, found him straight away. For me, I don’t understand how you can pull it up in front of us and then a year later you get a message: the case is closed. I don’t understand.”
In response to questions from the Irish Independent, gardaí said a full investigation was carried out into the alleged abuse.
“A full investigation was conducted by gardaí in Irishtown and two persons were identified,” they said.
“The first suspect was a juvenile at the time of the offence and he was deemed suitable for inclusion in the Garda Youth Diversion Scheme, which has taken place.
“A full investigation file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the second culprit (mid-20s) and a direction of no prosecution was received.
“An Garda Síochána had agreed that contact liaison would continue through a nominated spokesperson in the FAI. This nominee was kept informed at all times.”