Solicitors for FAI chief issued warnings to media denying he featured in ‘rebel song’ video

FAI chief John Delaney has defended his singing of a song about hunger strikers in a Dublin pub — as it emerged lawyers acting on his behalf had initially been instructed to deny he was involved.

The FAI chief executive took to the airwaves to defend himself after a video emerged in which he is heard singing ‘Joe McDonnell’, a ballad about the IRA hunger striker who died in 1981 and who had been jailed for terrorist offences. It was recorded in the Bath Pub near the Aviva Stadium following last week’s 4-1 victory by the Irish team over the USA.

The Guardian reported that solicitors acting for Mr Delaney had said on Monday that it was not him in the footage and warned: “If you take the decision to publish legal proceedings will follow.”