Medal saga giving Irish a bad name

THE Cian O’Connor gold medal controversy has given Ireland a bad reputation, the Olympic Council of Ireland admitted yesterday.

Council president Pat Hickey said the saga was being discussed Europe-wide and it would reflect badly on a number of national organisations as well as on Irish people.

“It is giving us a bad image,” he told the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport and Tourism. “But that’s life and, when it arises, we have to go through the proper procedures.”