A Gaelic football club official has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexually abusing a teenage girl. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted to abusing the girl, who was just 15 at the time of the incident. The abuse took place over a period of several months, with the man grooming the girl before assaulting her on multiple occasions. The case has sent shockwaves through the Gaelic football community, and has raised serious questions about the safeguarding of young people in sports clubs across the country. This article explores the story in more detail, examining the impact of the abuse on the victim and her family, and the wider implications for the sporting community.
Former GAA club treasurer Thomas McKenna was sentenced to 16 years in prison after confessing to an unprecedented campaign of sex abuse that lasted for over 30 years. McKenna, now 62 years old, admitted to 162 offenses against 23 male victims, some of whom were teenagers. The abuse took place in Crossmaglen, County Armagh, at various locations, including the local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club, where McKenna was a respected member. The defendant will serve an additional seven years on license after release. The judge stated that McKenna had used his “mask of respectability” and his position of trust to abuse those boys and young men. She said the psychological damage inflicted on the victims had been “immeasurable,” and although no sentence could repair that damage, justice had prevailed.
The abuse began in 1988 and continued until McKenna’s arrest in 2018. According to court proceedings, McKenna filmed more than 50,000 photos and video clips of his victims stored on his recording devices. Many of the young victims were filmed when they were either naked or partially clothed. McKenna was a trusted member of that community. He was the local postman, worked in the Crossmaglen Credit Union, and volunteered with the GAA club for decades. He used his positions of trust to find “opportunities for abuse,” grooming young players and befriending parents to gain access to their children.
McKenna’s victims released a statement expressing their pride for the strength, dignity, and unity they displayed throughout the trial. While there were many difficult days as they relived the crimes committed against them, they as a group were immensely proud of the strength, dignity, and unity they’ve displayed throughout the whole process. They urge anyone else who has suffered similarly to take confidence from their journey and to reach out to the relevant authorities. The victims thanked the judge for the sentence, their families, and the Crossmaglen Rangers community for their support.
Detective Chief Inspector Kerry Brennan said predators of this type were incredibly manipulative, investing a lot of time building trust and embedding themselves within communities to carry out their operations under the radar. Eamonn McMahon from Crossmaglen Rangers added that the GAA would “continue to support victims and their families on an ongoing basis,” and it was waiting on the findings of an independent review commissioned to examine the abuses. Margaret Kinney from the Public Prosecution Service also praised the victims and stated that “there should be no hiding place for sexual offenders.” In addition to the custodial sentence, McKenna’s name will be placed on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.
