Man (40s) arrested following stabbing at U16 football game in Co Tyrone

A man has been arrested after a stabbing at an under-16s Gaelic football game in Co Tyrone in which two people were injured.

The Irish Times understands a man ran onto the pitch armed with a knife, possibly a Stanley blade, and approached the referee. Another official, believed to me an umpire, attempted to intervene and was wounded, requiring hospitalisation. The referee also received medical attention at the scene, though his injury was less serious.

PSNI remained at the scene late on Thursday night after responding to a report of a stabbing incident at the sports ground in the Convent Road area of Cookstown.

Following assessment and initial treatment, one man was taken to Antrim Area Hospital while the other injured person received treatment at the scene.

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A man, aged in his 40s, was arrested and was to be taken to custody for questioning.

Cookstown Fr Rocks Gaelic Football Club said it was working to support children who witnessed the incident.

A statement added: “Following a very serious incident at Padraig O’Cuilinn Pairc this evening during an Under-16 Championship match our thoughts are with the individuals impacted by it.

“The committee will now work to ensure that children and young people who witnessed this disturbing and very serious incident have the support and assistance that they require in the coming days.

“The club will be making no further comment on this.”

In a statement on Friday, Tyrone GAA said it is aware of “an incident which occurred at one of our underage fixtures” and it will be conducting an “investigation into the circumstances”.

“As the organising body, we treat this incident most seriously, and will be offering our support to those affected. We can make no further comment at this time,” the statement added.

The SDLP’s reconciliation and sport spokesman Justin McNulty called for the introduction of a zero tolerance policy on incidents such as the stabbing.

The event had been a “really horrible ordeal and for it to have happened in front of children was “just unacceptable”, the MLA said. Mr McNulty said the incident was not reflective of the two clubs involved in the game at which the incident occurred. “I don’t believe anybody goes to a game and expects to inflict such an injury. The Rubicon has been crossed. It’s time for a sea change in terms of people’s behaviour and attitudes,” he told RTÉ radio’s News at One Respect was more than words on the wall of a clubhouse or a slick advertising campaign, it needed to be lived, to be breathed by everyone in the organisation, Mr McNulty said. It needed to be part of the fabric, the bedrock of the organisation. Sea change had to happen immediately, he added.

“We need to take a long hard look at ourselves, there has to be zero tolerance for disrespect or abuse of officials in sport. We need to take a leaf from the book of rugby and learn very fast as this cannot continue.” The reaction “across the board” in the area had been shock and horror, he said. “This is shocking and it’s wrong and it can’t be allowed to continue.”