Galway, Ireland – Galway United, a football club in Ireland, faced backlash after posting a controversial image of their star player, Ed McCarthy, on social media. The post showed McCarthy holding a STOP sign, accompanied by the song ‘Murder On The Dancefloor,’ leading to a swift removal after receiving criticism from fans.
This incident sparked controversy due to McCarthy’s past involvement in a fatal three-car collision, which resulted in the death of a father of two. Back in 2020, McCarthy was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and banned from driving for seven years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Andrezej Obalek, a Polish national.
McCarthy, who was returning home from a training session with Cork City, lost control of his car, crossing onto the wrong side of the road and colliding with Obalek’s car. The impact resulted in Obalek’s immediate death, leaving behind a sister who shared a heartbreaking victim impact statement during the trial.
Following the social media controversy, Galway United issued an apology, stating that no offense was intended by the post and expressing regret for any distress it may have caused. Despite the club’s attempts to address the situation, the incident reignited public scrutiny and brought attention back to McCarthy’s personal history.
Despite the negative attention, McCarthy has continued to play for Galway United, making 71 appearances for the club with 12 goals and nine assists since joining in February 2022 after parting ways with another local team. As the controversy lingers, the incident has raised conversations about the responsibilities and consequences for public figures with controversial pasts.