'I have seen things that are unacceptable': Colin Healy backs Eileen Gleeson in FAI dispute

Healy was Gleeson's assistant during her time as manager of the Irish women's team.

Colin Healy believes there will "probably be more stories following up" on Eileen Gleeson's legal action against the FAI. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Colin Healy says he "100%" supports Eileen Gleeson in her legal action against the FAI. Healy, now manager of League of Ireland First Division club Kerry FC, was Gleeson's assistant during her time as boss of the Irish women's team.

Both departed their roles in December 2024 after Ireland's Euro playoff defeat to Wales. Gleeson had initially been appointed as interim successor to Vera Pauw before taking over on a permanent basis. 

In filings first reported by the Sunday Independent, Gleeson claims she was coerced into succeeding Pauw. She also accuses the FAI of breaching her right to equal pay to that of the Irish men's team manager, along with treating the side she managed as second-class citizens in comparison to their male counterparts.

”Obviously, I would have been in and around it," said Healy during a Kerry FC press conference when asked about Gleeson's allegations. 

"I don't think Eileen is going to be telling lies about it. What I would say about Eileen is that Eileen fought for the girls for everything. She did. She fought for everything. 

'Its not the chocolate that matters. It's the people you share it with '

Willy Wonkas ( mother) 2023 pic.twitter.com/DEGbIQkLc3

— Eileen Gleeson (@GleesonEileen) September 2, 2025

"She's come out with a statement, but she has her views on it. As I said, I have been there. I have experiences. I have seen things that are unacceptable. Eileen has come out and voiced her opinions. I would imagine that this story won't go away. I think there will probably be more stories following up on this one.”

Healy appeared exasperated when asked about Stephen Kenny getting a second campaign as manager of the Irish men's team while Gleeson did not get that chance. 

“Ah, do you know what? To be honest, how long have we got?" he said. 

“I could be here all fecking day talking about it. As I said, some of the stuff that went on was incredible. It really was. Obviously, with Stephen getting a second [campaign], Eileen didn't get one and we didn't get one. Sometimes I just wonder, do they know what they're doing themselves?” 

Gleeson claims the women’s team were under-resourced during her tenure compared with the men’s set-up, something she says undermined her performance in the role.

"That would be probably more on the manager's side of things," said Healy.

"The manager deals with people up there. As I said, I was only the coach there. So obviously, with regard to training, obviously whatever is on the training pitch, it was the manager then who deals with all the rest of that stuff. 

"Eileen has come out and she's felt that she needed to speak up and she has spoken up. I would support her 100%.”