Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley has said that the Cork City fans who mocked his son last week wouldn't do so if they visited a children's cancer ward.
Last Friday, League of Ireland champions Rovers lost to Cork City in Turner's Cross. After the game, Bradley was interviewed while fans chanted insults about his son, who is battling leukemia, from a pub outside the stadium.
Since then, both Rovers and Cork City have condemned the actions of the fans, and two individuals have been identified and given lifetime bans for their abusive behavior towards Bradley's son.
A statement on social media from Cork City read: "Cork City FC can confirm that two individuals have received lifetime bans from Turner's Cross as a result of their actions after last week's game against Shamrock Rovers. Both persons have admitted their involvement in directing abuse at Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley and have apologized for their behavior. Investigations into the matter by the relevant authorities are ongoing, and Cork City FC has offered our full support and cooperation with this process."
The statement further emphasized the club's zero-tolerance policy towards such abuse and expressed appreciation for those who have shown support and solidarity with Stephen Bradley and his family.
"The club wishes to reiterate its zero tolerance policy with regard to abuse of this nature," the statement continued
Stephen Bradley has spoken with the Gardaí in Cork and hopes charges will be brought as he doesn't feel those who chanted about his sick son should 'be let off with a slap on the wrists'
Watch @shamrockrovers v @dundalkfc tomorrow night on @rte2 and @rteplayer pic.twitter.com/qitPf25hOz— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 1, 2023
"We also commend all of those who have shown their support and solidarity with Stephen Bradley and his family in the aftermath of this incident."
Shortly after the incident, Bradley stated that he would be pressing charges and mentioned in a subsequent media interview that people wouldn't say such things if they visited places like St. John's Children's Cancer Ward in Crumlin.
Bradley said to RTE, "I'm just hoping that the Gardaí in Cork feel there is enough that we can go and press charges because I don't feel that these people should be let off with a slap on the wrist. I think what they said is the lowest of the low for me, and they need to be held accountable for their actions."
He continued, "If those people that said what they said spent the day in St John's Ward in Crumlin and saw what it's like to have a kid with cancer and to live with it, I'm sure it would really set them back."
In the same interview, Bradley expressed gratitude for the support received after the incident, saying, "A massive thank you to everyone who's reached out to myself and my family with emails, letters, texts, and that's from the genuine fans of Cork City."
Rovers will play against Dundalk tonight at 7:45PM.
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