Mother seeks safer goalposts after son's death

A distraught mother tonight urged that the Government to take action to ensure that soccer pitches are made safe after her 10…

A distraught mother tonight urged that the Government to take action to ensure that soccer pitches are made safe after her 10-year-old son died when a goalpost collapsed on him.

The family of Andrew Fitzgerald from Kilmallock in Co Limerick said legal proceedings were being taken against the Football Association of Ireland and Holy Cross Soccer Club after he died just days before his birthday.

He was playing one of his favourite games at a soccer summer camp at Holy Cross club near Bruff when he was struck on the head by the goalpost on August 5th, 2004.

His mother, Miriam Gallagher said after the inquest: "They need to make our sports fields safe for our children. If one other child is saved it will ease our grief. We believe the Government was made aware by at least two families after the deaths of their children, how unsafe unpinned goalposts were."

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The city coroner, Dr Tony Casey, said during the inquest: "I will write to the minister for sport to bring it to his attention, it is not the only one that has happened in my memory." Andrew received extensive fractures to his skull as he took target practice at a canvas sheet tied to a movable goalpost during a private soccer camp.

The inquest heard that a gust of wind caught the canvas sheet which was tied to the front of the unanchored goalpost - knocking it over.

Bill Hayes, the co-ordinator of the soccer camp said he was given the equipment for it, including the target practice sheet, from a regional developer of FAI. He said they tied the canvas practice sheet across the front of the goal with rope, adding: "It was obvious it was the right way to use it."

The jury, which passed a verdict of accidental death, recommended that if equipment like that was being used it should be anchored to the ground.