Sex tape scandal and bigotry force move to States

Monday, March 17, 2008

Sunday Life caught up with county hurler Darren Graham as he relaxed in New York ahead of a spell playing the game for a club side in Philadelphia.

But what was meant to be a three-month break in the States could become a lifetime move, as the young player considers uprooting to the US permanently.

He's weighing up his future after a tumultuous year in which he faced down the low-life bigots who could not bear to see a Protestant play Gaelic games and then became the victim of a sex tape scandal when a former friend stole and distributed a saucy video he had made with an ex-girlfriend.

Then, just weeks ago, the Lisnaskea home he shares with his Mum and young daughter Brooke was targeted by arsonists.

A brick was hurled through the window, two wheelie bins set alight and his mother's car was also torched.

"The only thing that saved the entire house being burned down was that the car was diesel. If it had been petrol it would have exploded," he says.

"But this is a new opportunity for me in America and I'm going to make the most of it and just leave everything behind me."

The opportunity has been handed to 26-year-old Graham by the Philadelphia Shamrocks and the joiner will also have work in the construction industry that can be extended past his initial three-months in the States.

He told Sunday Life: "I'm really delighted I was asked to play in Philadelphia and this is such an exciting time for me. "I'm really looking forward to the whole thing.

"I'm here for three months and then I'll come home again for a week before returning to the States. My girlfriend is also going to join me and I also know some boys out here.

"This was a good time for me to get away because of everything that went on in the past when I was playing in Fermanagh.

"The video tape is old news now and people are more disgusted at the per son who stole someone else's private possession."

He added: "I'm spending St Patrick's Day in New York and I'm really look ing forward to it.

"A few of the lads are coming up for the day and it should be good fun."

As he starts his break in the US, Graham says he will find it hard to leave behind Fermanagh and his wider family.

But he is looking forward to ducking out of the limelight for a while.

Since making his stand against sectarianism last August Graham has never been far from the headlines.

Graham's father and two uncles, all serving part-time soldiers in the UDR, were shot dead by the IRA during the 1980s - his father Cecil's murder com ing when he was just three weeks old.

But despite his background, Graham lived for Gaelic games and counts his proudest moment as the first time he pulled on the Fermanagh county jersey.

When he tore off his shirt and walked off the pitch while playing football for his Lisnaskea Emmets club side he didn't imagine the effect it would have.

The move, triggered by endless niggling sectarian comments and a lack of support from within the GAA, prompted an investigation by GAA President Nicky Brennan and brought the promise of a zero-tolerance policy regarding sectarian abuse.

He returned to the game after receiving assurances, but is still glad of the opportunity to try live in the States.

"After all that has gone on in the past months, this is a good time for me to get away."

Additional reporting - Ciaran McGuigan