Sir, – The article on violence in GAA games (“Violence in GAA: ‘The doctors said if my son had continued playing he’d probably have had a heart attack’,” May 30th) makes for alarming reading.
In most sports, fractured backs, broken sternums and facial injuries inflicted through a helmet are rare and almost never deliberately inflicted; the disciplines involved would provide for stern punishment if they were and I would expect, depending on the level of aggression and intent, the civil authorities would become involved.
I think the contributors to the article who feel accusations of violence are being blown out of proportion are themselves victims of a culture that has turned a blind eye for far too long. Indeed, the fact that The Irish Times has a weekly column called The Schemozzle is telling. This invented word is meant to reduce the melee that erupts far too often on GAA pitches to a mere pushing game.
“Handbags” is another (sexist) word frequently used when players confront one another, intended to convey an image of some harmless swiping. One contributor to the article feels that a big deal is made over “a punch or two”; another that minor scuffles and aggression are “part of the game”.
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Boxing is a sport in which there are rules under which opponents can strike one another. There are tackle rules in rugby, which if breached are penalised. Striking an opponent in soccer is a sending-off offence. It is time for the GAA to get its house in order. – Yours, etc,
Seán Leake,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.
