An investigation is underway after a number of underage Irish basketball players were on the receiving end of online racial abuse.

Basketball Ireland say they are horrified by messages that appeared on Ask FM, and then spread to Facebook, targeting members of the Ireland under-15 team.

Ask FM is a social networking site, popular with teenagers, where users can ask each other questions, with the option of doing so anonymously.

Bernard O'Byrne, Secretary General of Basketball Ireland, says cyber bullying of any kind is totally unacceptable:

Byrne also says the organisation has contacted gardaí and Ask Fm over the abuse.