Mullingar Rugby Club has confirmed that it has expelled Jonathan Moran (26) after it emerged this week that Moran is awaiting sentencing for rape and aggravated sexual assault.
The crimes took place in July 2019.
Moran was convicted last April but his name was only published this week at a sentencing hearing when the woman he attacked, Bláthnaid Raleigh, waived her right to anonymity. The court had been told that Moran had used a bottle to assault Ms Raleigh, who subsequently spent months in treatment in a sexual assault unit.
Moran was a very well-known and popular member of the club where he has played for more than a decade. He played on the senior first team and gained his 100th cap for that team in January. However, he was swiftly expelled when the club authorities became aware last Monday of the conviction and impending sentencing.
‘I’m hoping at least one girl who is on the fence about reporting her violent boyfriend ... will read about my case’
What Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens promised in 2020 - and how much they delivered
Ciara Mageean: ‘I just felt numb. It wasn’t even sadness, it was just emptiness’
Restaurateur Gráinne O’Keefe: I cut out sugar from my diet and here’s how it went
Senior members called an emergency general committee meeting, which was held on Wednesday night, and Moran’s association with the club was terminated.
The club’s general committee issued a statement to The Irish Times on Saturday saying: “Mullingar Rugby Football Club was deeply shocked and saddened to learn on Monday of the crime committed by former member Jonathan Moran. We condemn and are appalled by this act.
“Mullingar RFC prides itself on fostering an inclusive and safe environment for all members. We are committed to promoting a culture of respect, integrity and zero tolerance for any form of abuse and to upholding the values of sportsmanship, integrity, and respect for all.”
The statement was signed by the General Committee Mullingar Rugby Football Club.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
