Really powerful stuff from the former professional footballer.
Richie Sadlier appeared on The Late Late Show on Friday night to discuss the release of his new book Recovering.
While chatting with Ryan Tubridy on the show, he discussed the fact that he was sexually abused as a young teenager, and the effect it had on his life.
The former Milwall player said that the abuse took place over a period of six weeks when he was 14-years-old, by a man who was treating him for a sports injury.
He said he now regrets not telling his family and friends at the time, saying “I almost gave him a free pass.”
He said: “I tormented myself with those questions for years. And because I didn’t tell anyone, like if you were a pal of mine I would never tell you.
“But looking back on it if you don’t tell someone what you are going through, you don’t give your mates the opportunity to give their version of events or you don’t get the opportunity to hear your thoughts out loud, and my thoughts were bonkers about the whole thing. But I thought it was my failing.”
You can see a clip from the show here:
'My thoughts were bonkers about the whole thing. But I thought it was my failing' – Richie Sadlier opens up about being sexually abused when he was 14 years old pic.twitter.com/8T3tEqmJz5
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 5, 2019
Sadlier’s book is available in shops now.
Shane Lowry was also on the couch on Friday night, discussing how he deals with the highs and lows of being a professional golfer.
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