GAA's star in Dublin, Philly McMahon, investigates the problem of addiction for the RTE show and declares that he would give up his six medals from Ireland to get his brother back

GAA star Philly McMahon would give up all six of her medals in Ireland just for her brother's return.

The Ace Dubs, 31, revealed that the death of his big brother John, victim of a heroin overdose in 2012, was "the mid-life speech of my life" .

In a very personal documentary by RTE, twice the GAA All Star Philly explores the underbelly of addiction and argues for the decriminalization of drugs in Ireland.

The famous left-back half believes that his older brother "never had the opportunity" after taking his first heroin shot in a Ballymun towers lift at the age of 14 years. He was 31 when he died.

Philly said, "During all my years of football for Dublin, my number one goal has never changed: get this blue jersey and wear it as often as possible.

"I have never had the opportunity to share anything with John. I would give my whole country of Ireland to have it with me today.

"I'm Ballymun, it's in my blood and that's what makes me the man I am. Growing up, it was for me a colorful and magical place, where we played football against the towers.

"There were five children in our family. I was the baby and John was the older brother whom I loved. He was 6 feet 4 years old – he has height, I do not have it. The heroine tore Dublin in the 80s and 90s and Ballymun, the place I loved, was at the heart of this epidemic.

"Drugs were part of our world, but for John, that was part of his everyday life.

"It started with the hash and some acid shots, then one day in an elevator at the bottom of the tower, John took his first heroin shot. He was 14 years old.

"I would have known that he was an addict. He arrived at the stage where he was taking things and selling things. You will find foil around the house smoking heroin.

"John's drug problem has pushed me further into football. I did not understand John's addiction, I did not know how to cope so I spent all my time and energy playing.

"When all the guys I grew up with got into trouble, I played football. That's what saved me.

Philly, who changed her last name from Caffrey – from her mother – to McMahon – from her father – to stand out from her brother, admits he was ashamed of John's drug use.

But now, he wants to use his experience of stigma and addiction to help others.

During the documentary, he travels to Portugal to see how the decriminalization of drugs and the treatment of drug addiction as a health problem have helped to solve this problem.

And he explains how running a fitness program for inmates of a progress unit of Mountjoy Prison gave him the opportunity to inspire others.

Philly said, "Entering and seeing five or six of my clbadmates in front of me opened my eyes and I took the opportunity to help them change their lives and their thoughts. If I did not play sports, would I have followed the same path as most guys on Sloane Road?

"Probably, it depends.

"It's very easy to fall into this trap. You can buy a drug bag and cross the street for $ 3,000 or $ 4,000. That's how easy it is to be trapped.

"I would be happier to be known for supporting and helping others than for the medals I have from Ireland." The documentary
was filmed before the father of GAA's star, Phil, lost his fight against cancer at the beginning of the year, at the age of 64.

Philly said, "I received my father's name. He taught me to be resilient, he taught me to be tough. He fought cancer head on with his own sense of humor.

"My love of sport came from my da."

Senior Phil told the cameras, "He was always a football fan. I took him playing football on a field, I would have done practice his headers.

"They [Philly and John] loved each other. I know they've never been able to say it probably but my eyes have watched them both grow up. They were brothers until their death.

In another poignant scene, Philly and her mother look at old photos discussing the tragic loss of John and Phil.

Valerie said, "How, entering my home with drugs, could he hide it? He never had the opportunity, he was so young.

"Which child of 11 or 12 who takes drugs has a chance? Their brain must be badped. "

In a direct reference to her son's autobiography, The Choice, she adds, "Philly did not want to be like John, it was both roads, it was the choice.

"Philly made his choice. Philly stayed with the football and John went with the drugs. "

Philly also interviewed recovering drug addicts for the program and talked to other families who lost loved ones to addiction.

And calling for a change of attitude in Ireland, he said: "It took a long time, but I finally understood what John was going through.

"I now know that addicts need to be treated with compbadion. We will never get rid of drugs, but we can take control and manage it better.

"If it were your son, your daughter, your friend, would not you want a policy that shows compbadion and respect for your loved one?

"In the end, an addict must make his choice, but we need a policy that keeps him alive long enough for him to do so.

"We need change, we owe it to the ghosts of overdoses. They are the father of someone, the mother of someone, the sister of someone. It was my brother, John. "

• Philly McMahon: The biggest hit is on RTE One tomorrow at 9:30 pm