Update 9.30pm: Limerick FC released a statement this evening, saying they find it “very difficult to accept” Jordan Moore’s apology after his comments about the club, Limerick city and Bruff.
The statement reads: “Limerick FC are aware of comments attributed to former player Jordan Moore in a newspaper article today in relation to his time at the club and the town of Bruff.
“Limerick FC are hurt, angered and dumbfounded by these comments which we totally and utterly refute. We are aware that the community of Bruff has been left understandably distressed by the said article.
Haunted by a nun ghost and threatened by gangsters - The remarkable tale of Jordan Moorehttps://t.co/5oEp1HiqBZ pic.twitter.com/TJjQpNCEH2
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) June 14, 2016
“A representative for Jordan Moore contacted the club earlier this year and informed us of Jordan’s background and his recovery from cancer. As a community-driven club, we offered Jordan a short-term deal to assist in his rehabilitation and provided him with accommodation and remuneration.
“Jordan spent a week at the club after which he decided to take up our offer. Initially it was agreed that Jordan would stay for four weeks but at his request this was extended. Jordan recently returned to Scotland and had thanked the club for their help during his stay here.
“The club, our staff and players have been welcomed with open arms by the community of Bruff and have been treated tremendously.
“The club this afternoon received an apology from Jordan Moore in which he states the comments are “taken out of context and sensationalised”. We find it very difficult to accept the apology at this time.
“The club will be making no further comment as we seek further advice.”
Update 5.05pm: In an grovelling email sent to Limerick FC Mr Moore said: “To all at Limerick FC, I am writing to apologise unreservedly for any distress I may have been caused by the coverage in today’s newspapers.
“It was completely unintentional.
“My comments have been taken out of context and sensationalised, particularly about the town of Bruff,” he said.
“The people in the town were extremely nice to me during my time there and I am sorry for any offence and distress I have caused,” Moore added.
“I have been a bit naïve and it is a harsh lesson learned for me.
“Again, my apologies.”
3.30pm
A former Dundee United striker’s comments about Limerick and its citizens have been labelled “imbecilic”, writes David Raleigh.
In an interview with the Daily Record in Scotland, Jordan Moore, described Limerick as a place “full of gypsy horses”.
“They call the area Stab City. On every second lamp post there is a horse tied against it,” he told the newspaper.
The village of Bruff, 17km from the City, where Limerick FC have set up a soccer academy in the local former FCJ Convent secondary school, also came in for further incredible criticism from Moore.
“I stayed in a place called Bruff. It was the weirdest village ever.
“The locals would jump on the backs of horses and just ride along. There were no cars. Or at least there was more horses than cars.”
Limerick FC have been asked to give their side of the story, but have yet to issue any comment.
The Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Liam Galvin, said he was “horrified and disgusted” at the article.
“It’s very disappointing.”
“He calls Limerick stab city. Ok, there was a nickname on our city, but that is long gone,” he said.
Cllr Galvin said he would be contacting the Daily Record “to clarify where they get their information”.
He described the article as “incredible”.
“It’s hard to believe it. I’m very disappointed with it.”
Defending the city, he said: “We are very proud of our culture. We are very proud of our sporting achievements here, particular in soccer, rugby and GAA.”
Referencing the city’s past troubles with gangland crime, the mayor said: “I want to acknowledge the work that the Gardai have done in bringing our city back from where it was many years ago.”
“They have brought our city back from the dark days.”
“I am very proud to say our city is on the way up,” he said.
“There isn’t a city in the world that doesn’t have its problems, but certainly reading that (Daily Record article) is not accurate, and is not a fair reflection of the Limerick we are living in today,” the mayor said.
Fine Gael councillor for the Bruff area, Bill O’Donnell, described Mr Moore’s comments as “childish” and “imbecilic”.
He laughed out loud at the suggestion made by Moore in the article, that one of the local publicans was a “big- time gangster”.
“Who is this guy? Is he for real?” Cllr O’Donnell asked.
“It’s an imbecilic article, an imbecilic interview.”
Cllr O’Donnell invited Moore back to Bruff to sample the local annual Halloween storytelling festival, as well as the Bloom festival which takes place next Thursday.
“There will be plenty of Joycean tales of ghosts,” he said.
“He can visit our goblins and ghosts and anything else that takes his fancy. Bruff is full of fantasies, takes and stories.”
“Bruff is an amazing place.”
