Katie McCabe hails courage of former Irish players for coming forward

“It was a really difficult watch. I felt a lot of different emotions. I really felt for the players coming out and sharing their story," said the Ireland captain.

COURAGE: Katie McCabe has hailed the courage of those that came forward in the RTÉ Investigates/Sunday Independent’s story containing allegations of abuse on female players by male coaches in the late 1990s. Poc Credit: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Katie McCabe has hailed the courage of those that came forward in the RTÉ Investigates/Sunday Independent’s story containing allegations of abuse on female players by male coaches in the late 1990s.

Since the probe began, the FAI have introduced a confidential hotline for players to report any mistreatment and McCabe confirmed she has been in touch with the PFAI’s general secretary Stephen McGuinness in an effort to reach out to those affected.

“I haven’t spoken to them individually. I know it’s a very sensitive time and I just hope they all know that we fully support them,” said McCabe.

“It was a really difficult watch. I felt a lot of different emotions. I really felt for the players coming out and sharing their story.

“To have the courage to do that after so long, 20-25 years I think it was, the courage they’ve shown to come out and speak about those things that should never, ever have happened while those women were playing football and doing so to ensure it never happens again.

“I’m lucky to be part of a team and all through my playing career, that’s never happened to me nor do I know any close people of mine that that’s happened to.

"For me as a captain of the national team, I can speak on behalf of the whole team and say our thoughts, our love, and our support is with each and every one of those women.

“For us, there are safeguarding protocols in place as a national team and having that reassurance from David and Aoife as well, coming in at the start of the week to speak to us about that, to ensure those things should never happen in football, in any workplace.

“Our thoughts and our love are with those women involved and I hope they can find some peace in having shared their story.”