Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Club call for calm amid conviction outrage
No ‘knee-jerk action’ over Donnelly
CLIFTONVILLE Football Club has vowed to avoid taking a “knee-jerk reaction” as they ponder what to do about striker Jay Donnelly.
The 23-year-old, who has been convicted of distributing an indecent image of a child, was left out of the North Belfast club’s squad on Saturday.
Donnelly stayed away from Solitude where the Reds were playing Dungannon Swifts. In a statement, the second issued by the club, Cliftonville insisted it “doesn’t condone” the striker’s behaviour.
It added: “We made that clear to Jay Donnelly and the player himself accepts he must atone.
“Cliftonville Football Club is acutely aware a young woman has suffered because of Jay Donnelly’s actions.
“The club feels it has a duty of care to everyone associated at this moment in time.
“Please be assured Cliftonville FC will take strong action to protect the good name of the club and our supporters, but we are also mindful not to take knee-jerk action that could impact negatively on any injured parties.”
“We acknowledge there are people
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both within and without our club calling for immediate action.
“Cliftonville FC will not shirk its responsibilities to both our members and the wider community, but we again appeal for this matter to be handled in a measured fashion.
“The courts will deliberate before delivering justice, as will Cliftonville FC.”
Pre-sentence reports have been ordered and Donnelly is expected back in court early in the New Year.