Conor Cusack believes Paddy O'Rourke should report the vile abuse he was subjected to on Sunday to the Gardai.

The Meath goalkeeper came in for some sickening treatment online in the wake of the Royal County's first-ever championship defeat to neighbours Westmeath and Cusack points out that a line is crossed when a player's life is threatened:

"What I would say is if someone threatens your life on social media, that's something that should be reported to the Gardaí, absolutely," the GPA Player Development Officer is quoted in The Irish Examiner.

"I don't see any difference between that comment being made on the street and by a guy on a keyboard. That's something that's crossed way over the line. I would be recommending any guy, in any sphere of life, who receives something like that to talk to the Gardaí.

"This is new territory for the GPA, for the GAA and for county players but what I would say for sure is that our silence can allow this phenomenon to grow and prosper. I think it's important that the likes of Paddy and players like him highlight the fact that this is going on for them because if it's happening to Paddy O'Rourke today, what's to say it won't be your child tomorrow?

"Even looking beyond the sporting environment, and I see it myself through the work I'm involved in, I often meet parents who've lost a son or daughter to suicide and it's only afterwards they realise what was happening with their kids on Facebook or on social media. By then it's too late.

"Sometimes we forget that these county players behind the profile and the physical presence have their own challenges and difficulties. My fear would be for the player who might be in a particularly vulnerable place when he receives this sort of attack. We've seen that in wider society and we know the dangers of it. We've seen some tragic situations."

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