ONE OF MEATH’S top referees has admitted that Twitter abuse following last year’s county football final contributed to a suicide attempt which almost claimed his life.
Tyrone native Patrick Nelis took charge of the 2013 Meath SFC final between victors Summerhill and neighbouring club Na Fianna.
Just weeks later, he attempted to take his own life with an overdose of tablets.
The Kells based official was battling deep depression and broke into “floods of tears” after the county final when he learned of the online abuse directed at him.
By his own admission,Nelis had “piled on the weight” at the time due to his depression medication and Twitter trolls didn’t hold back.
“I took a lot of abuse on Twitter after the county final that affected me badly,” said Nelis. “I took serious abuse, people Tweeting stuff like ‘the fat, red hamster’.
“I remember sitting at home reading that stuff in floods of tears. I kept reading it again and again, trying to get behind the reason people would say such things.
“I shouldn’t have done that, I shouldn’t have read it.”
Nelis told his tale to the Meath Chronicle newspaper in the hope that others will seek help and ultimately recover.
The 35-year old praised local GAA officials for intervening when he was at his lowest point.
“I took the overdose but what I didn’t realise was that I had sent a text, halfway through it all, saying I was going to do something,” recalled Nelis. “I don’t remember sending it.
“My friend, who had a key, came around, found me on the bathroom floor. I was out basically cold. I was taken to Navan Hospital.”
Nelis isn’t the first GAA figure to speak about the devastating impact of depression.
Last July, Meath captain Kevin Reilly warned social media users not to cross the line and “personally insult players”. Respected official Nelis said that in previous years he wouldn’t have been as effected by such abuse but was also going through a personal break-up.
“I was lucky,” he said. “I made it through. What I would say to others is to get help, there is help out there.”
Helplines
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Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
- Console 1800 247 247 – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)
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Aware 1890 303 302 (depression anxiety)
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Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie - (suicide, self-harm, bereavement)
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Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
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Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)
– First published 00.05
Bloody hell, where did that come from!
The well of truth
Wonder how vocal sheedy was when moyes was his boss. I think we can all guess
Didn’t want to lose his job I’m sure.
Sheedy was probably protecting the kids….
Moyes is the best thing to happen to football in 20 years. People should have more respect for him. Like the Liverpool fans’ banner yesterday said, he is a football genius!
Paul, in all honesty, because this has been going on for a while now, normally I would try to make a case but at this point, this remark puts a smile on my face.
Must of been hard for Sheedy. Everyday at work coaching kids for 7 years telling them to do this , do that and work hard, all for the goal of developing players for the first team. When in reality he probably knew these kids were going nowhere at Everton.
Prob like most top half premier league clubs in all fairness tho, like v few of these clubs are actually using their own youth developed players
I think it’s the arsenal fans that are the champions of waiting.
Reckon Harry would have been a better choice! Players have no confidence in manager. Harry a fantastic player manger.
Go on the sheedy, great goal, corner of the net.. 1990 Ohh love it sir, love it.
Everton is a good team but they’re not as good as Arsenal – 2013/14 champions in waiting.
Waiting being the important word there!..waiting they will be!
It’s great Sheedy has the courage to speak out.