Ian Wright says he's disappointed after a Kerry teenager who admitted sending racist and crass messages avoided criminal conviction.
18-year-old Patrick O'Brien of Sycamore Court, Ashleigh Downs, Tralee had pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to the matter.
Mr O'Brien had sent over twenty racist messages to the former footballer over Instagram.
At Tralee District Court, Judge David Waters said that he didn't see that anything could be gained by imposing a criminal conviction the teen.
He made the decision after hearing from the teenager's solicitor, Pat Mann, that he had taken his own initiative and donated €500 to an anti-racism charity, the Irish Network Against Racism.
Judge Waters also based his decision on reading a report from the Probation Service.
The report said the young man had cooperated fully, and had an awareness of what he did and the negative impact it had on his victim, Mr Wright.
He also took into account Patrick O'Brien's age and that he had no previous conviction.
The teenager also wrote a letter of apology to Ian Wright.
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) February 3, 2021
But the footballer, who accepted Mr O'Brien's apology said he "did not expect [his] forgiveness to be an invitation to lighten a sentence."
Mr Wright said he can "only wonder" what deterrent there is for anyone else who spouts this kid of vile racist abuse".
He said that claims of natievity or immaturity will ever be accepted.
He sighned off by writing "Im tited. We are all tired."
