A former GAA county chairman who dedicated his life to the association settled a claim against them today over an injury he sustained at a Championship match which left him with long term psychological problems.
Mr Harry Chivers (59) was Derry County Chairman when his team narrowly lost to Cavan in the Senior Ulster Football Championship match in July 1997, the High Court was told today.
The court heard that following the match at St Tighearnaigh's Park, Clones, Mr Chivers was struck with a blow to the body as he made his way into the tunnel after Cavan supporters streamed onto the pitch.
Counsel for the plaintiff, Mr Turlough O'Donnell, said that the blow knocked Mr Chivers out and later caused him to develop phobic anxiety neurosis.
He was left with an irrational fear of being in crowds and found attending family events such as weddings traumatic, the judge, Justice Johnson, was told.
Mr Chivers also had to resign as chairman of Derry County GAA and take early retirement from his job as head of the technology department at St Mary's High School, Limavady, Co Derry.
He was suing 12 officials from the GAA and one from Frontline, the security firm hired to provide stewarding at the match, for failing to control the crowd.
According to Mr O'Donnell, a large number of supporters made their way onto the pitch and towards the tunnel near where the cup was being presented. Mr Chivers made his way through the crowd to the tunnel - which was filled with Frontline security men - where he was injured, the court was told.
"The GAA failed to organise the crowd in any serious way and as a result allowed a situation to occur where the tunnel was packed, congested and a source of danger to people trying to make their way through it," counsel said.
After a settlement was reached, Mr O'Donnell asked for the claim against the 12 GAA officials to be struck out and the claim against the Frontline official to be dismissed.
Mr Danny Murphy, secretary of the Ulster Council of the GAA, said: "The GAA wishes to acknowledge that Mr Chivers has given great and distinguished service, as an individual of the highest integrity with a life-long dedication to the GAA games.
"The GAA regrets the incident at the Ulster finals.
"We accept that Mr Chivers suffered serious health problems which led to his retirement from his active role in the GAA and his early retirement from teaching."
Mr Chivers told the court how he had been involved in the GAA since he was 20 years old and had worked his way up through the organisation.