Ulster rugby rocked by another scandal as club fields convicted sex offender

Banbridge Rugby Football Club have continued to play 36-year-old Philip Morrison on their representative sides despite him being convicted of sending pictures of his genitals to a 16-year-old girl and pressuring her to send him topless photos of herself.

He even lines out for the club’s mixed ability team – called the Banbridge Barbarians – which includes vulnerable adults with learning difficulties and physical impairments.

Last night, Banbridge RFC defended their decision to allow Morrison to continue to play, saying they suspended him but he was allowed to return “after careful consideration by the committee” and that the player had complied with all their conditions.

Last Saturday, Morrison scored the opening try in a narrow victory over the De la Salle Vikings at Rifle Park, Banbridge, and in 2010 he was the club’s player of the year as well as their top try scorer.

Morrison is also a full Irish international, after he lined out for the Irish rugby league team in a test match against Hungary in Budapest in 2018.

Shockingly, Morrison, whose five-month prison sentence was suspended for two years, went on tour with the Banbridge RFC’s Blue Sox team to Belgium last year where he posed for a team photo in broad daylight with his genitals on show.

The club actually posted the photo on their social media channels but last night told the Sunday World they removed the picture as soon as they were made aware of his shocking behaviour and “disciplinary action was taken in respect of the matter”.

Last night, one furious member of the club told the Sunday World: “The club knows about his conviction, they are very aware having heard it from other players and they appear to not care.

“They suspended him, but he wasn’t away for very long and many in the club believe he should not have been allowed back – especially after he exposed himself in Belgium.

“It’s nothing short of an embarrassing disgrace to have someone who sent a young teenage girl pictures of his penis and making her send pictures of her breasts.

“The poor girl told the police she only sent the picture because she was concerned that if she didn’t it could affect her job.

“The fact he posed for a picture – which was posted publicly – with his genitals on show again two years after he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register is just mind boggling to be honest. How many chances should he get?

“I’m unsure whether the Barbarians, the mixed ability team, are aware – we’re more than certain that the parents and carers would not want someone like that on the team.

“Opposing teams have no idea who they are playing against either. He will be attending their clubhouses where there are children and young girls etc.”

The club are preparing to celebrate their centenary next year and are staunch supporters of International Women’s Day and regularly post about the club’s code of conduct and how best to respect the game of rugby.

Part of that code of conduct gives advice to supporters and members on how they should behave, stating: “Set a positive example for younger supporters by demonstrating good behaviour and respect for all participants.”

It also states clearly that fans and members should “report misconduct”, stating: “If you witness any inappropriate behaviour, report it to the relevant authorities within the club.”

In an interview with the club’s social media channel two years before he was almost sent to jail, Morrison revealed, ironically, that his favourite TV show was Prison Break.

Morrison appeared at Newry Magistrates Court in July 2022 where he narrowly avoided going to a stint behind bars.

The court was told he “pressured a 16-year-old co-worker to send him a topless photo of herself”.

The then 33-year-old was convicted of improper use of the public electronic communications network and intentionally encouraging the girl to distribute an indecent photograph to him.

The court heard that on January 19 that year, police received a referral from social services relating to a man.

The individual concerned, Morrison, was a manager at Domino’s pizza store in Banbridge and he had been on a work party night out the month before.

Police had been told he sent a picture of his genitals to a 16-year-old employee.

She also told officers he asked her to send him photographs.

The girl was concerned with what would happen at work and sent a photo of her breasts to Morrison.

He was interviewed by police and admitted the incident.

Defence counsel Kevin Magill said Morrison was “extremely embarrassed and remorseful about his stupid actions”.

Mr Magill said the charge had “dire consequences in terms of his employment and a lesson has been learned from this, which he will continue to have to deal with”.

District Judge Eamonn King said: “The facts are somewhat concerning in that there is what could be defined as an abuse of position.

“He was a manager of an establishment where the young person had a part-time job and the abuse was such he approached and encouraged the unfortunate young individual to engage in the practice outlined before the court.”

Judge King imposed a five-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to sign the sex offenders register for five years.

Another angry club member who contacted this paper the Sunday World this week said: “Since he’s been convicted, he’s acted like it’s a non-issue. He has travelled abroad on tour representing the club several times since his conviction.”

According to the club website Morrison went on tour to Belgium last summer and to Aberdeen this year but missed the tour of 2022 and 2023.

“Banbridge is a very small town, everyone knows everyone’s business so everyone knew about what he had done,” said one source.

“There have been team members that have left the club over it. Some seemed very unhappy about the way it was all handled.

“I know other clubs wouldn’t want to play or host someone like this. Rugby is meant to be a family-friendly sport.”

In fact, Banbridge prides itself for being a family-friendly and all-inclusive rugby club.

They have a number of women’s teams, including four girls’ ‘pathway’ teams with U10s, U12s, U14s, U16s and U18s all catered for, as well as two senior women’s 15s.

Their first time were promoted last year to compete in the Ulster Women’s Premiership this season.

Banbridge Rugby Club hosted a three-day celebration for former player Rory Best after he retired having played 124 times for Ireland.

They regard him as “one of their own” after the star player started playing mini-rugby at Banbridge.

In 2018, while still Irish rugby captain, he was criticised for attending a rape trial where two teammates had been charged but were ultimately acquitted.

His attendance was seen as signalling his support for the two players on trial and he later admitted regret in attending the trial.

Last month, Ulster Rugby criticised a rugby club in Tyrone after they signed disgraced former Ireland international Chris Farrell.

The Fivemiletown sportsman, part of the Ireland team that won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2018, was handed a four-year sentence last December, with two suspended, for failure to prevent the rape of a woman in France in 2017.

Three other rugby players were convicted of the rape. The court was told Farrell would not be sent to prison but would have to wear an electronic tag for two years and remain in France.

However, his lawyer said he was allowed to return home in the summer and he has since signed for Clogher Valley Rugby Football Club.

In a damning statement, Ulster Rugby said it did not support the signing and said it was considering options with its governing body, the Irish Rugby Football Union.

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