The mother of a 10-year-old Co Limerick boy killed when a goalpost fell on him at a summer soccer camp has spoken about the nightmare of losing her only child.
Miriam Gallagher was speaking after the inquest into the death of her son, Andrew Fitzgerald, who was killed in a tragic accident at Holycross Soccer Club, Co Limerick, on August 5th last.
Andrew died two weeks before his 11th birthday when an FAI-approved target net fixed to a portable goalpost was caught in a gust of wind, pulling the goalpost down on him.
Speaking yesterday after the inquest, Andrew's mother appealed to the Government to introduce a law ensuring that all goalposts are pinned down in the future.
A solicitor representing the Football Association of Ireland at the inquest, Dermot O'Donovan, said he would bring to the notice of the football authority a recommendation by the jury at yesterday's inquest that all goalposts be anchored to the ground.
Ms Gallagher said that she was not the only mother who had lost a child in similar circumstances.
"Four children have been killed in recent years by falling goalposts. We believe the Government was made aware by at least two families after the deaths of their children, how unsafe unpinned goalposts were, months before Andy's death, yet nothing has been done," said Ms Gallagher.
"As recently as four weeks ago another soccer goalpost fell in Arklow knocking down four-year-old Anna Sheahan - thankfully she survived - but it reiterates the dangers that are connected with not having goalposts pinned down.
"If a law was put in place, then Andy's death may be the reason for many other children being saved injury, disablement, or death and many parents being spared this horrific grief," she added.
During yesterday's inquest - where a verdict of accidental death was returned - Bill Hayes, one of the co-ordinators of the soccer camp, said the target net which caused the goalposts to collapse had been given to the camp along with other equipment by the FAI.
One witness told gardaí that the canvas target net looked like "a sail" when the wind blew it and the goalposts came down.
Ms Gallagher was called at the family home, located beside the soccer club, when the accident happened at 3.30pm and told to come down as "soon as possible as it was quite bad".
The inquest heard that when she arrived her son was lying on the ground, his lips were blue and he was not breathing.
Another witness told gardaí that he saw Ms Gallagher trying to clear her son's airway.
Medical evidence was given that Andrew died from respiratory failure due to a fracture of the skull.
The jury recommended that in future if similar equipment was being used, it should be anchored to the ground.
Coroner Dr Tony Casey said he would write to the Minister for Sport informing him of this recommendation.
Mr O'Donovan also said he would bring this "to the notice of the FAI".
Speaking on behalf of the Football Association of Ireland, Mr O'Donovan offered his sympathy to the Fitzgerald family and said the FAI was "acutely aware that this was an appalling tragedy".
"The loss and deep sense of grief experienced by the family is deeply appreciated," said the solicitor.
Meanwhile, Ms Gallagher said she would not wish the nightmare that she and her husband are living through on any other parent.
"Andrew was our life, our life, our only child, the only child we can have, and nothing or no one can or would ever take his place," she said.