THE first of 35 law suits arising out of the disturbances which led to the abandonment of the international between the Republic of Ireland and England in February 1995 is expected to come before the courts in Dublin today.
The FAI, the English FA and the Garda are being sued for failing to safeguard spectators during the ill fated game at Lansdowne Road, the first international to be truncated because of violence.
It is seen as a test case with wide ranging implications for football in general. Among the expert witnesses expected to be called is John Stalker, the former Deputy Chief Constable of Manchester police.
Sean Connolly, a former chief executive of the FAI, is also likely to be in the witness box, but there are no plans to require Jack Charlton, who was then Ireland manager, to travel from England for the case.
A number of spectators were injured when a section of the England supporters rioted in the upper deck of the West stand. In the interests of the safety of players and spectators, the referee abandoned the game in the 27th minute at a stage when Ireland led 1-0.
Ian Evans, the assistant Ireland manager, is to take in a number of National League games at the weekend before advising Mick McCarthy on selection for the B squad to face a National League side at Tolka Park on St Patrick's Day.
Evans will watch the first division games involving Drogheda and Waterford and Kilkenny and Monaghan before going to Belfield on Sunday for the Premier Division meeting of UCD and Finn Harps.
UCD are the only one of these six clubs with a representative - Jason Colwell - in the National League squad to oppose a team of English semi professionals next week. The decision to dispatch the assistant manager to three different grounds on consecutive days, is seen as a measure of McCarthy's commitment to the fixture.
McCarthy said: "In a sense, I am less worried by the availability of people who already have a track record in international football, as those who are still trying to break into it. One of the purposes of this exercise is to sort out the up and coming talent and the selection of the squad will, hopefully, reflect that."
Among those who may fit into that category is Mark Kinsella, the QPR midfielder whose talent has been largely unsung here since he left Home Farm to join Colchester. In that time, however, he has established himself as a creative player with much to offer.
Significantly, perhaps, McCarthy has watched him in action twice this season and while loath to compare him with the other midfield players already available to him, was still impressed enough to include him in his long term plans.
Graham Kavanagh of Stoke City is another possible, while others who could find themselves in Dublin on March 17th are Gareth Farrelly and Dave Savage, both of whom were in the squad for the end of season programme but have since had to make way for more experienced internationals.
Farrelly, in particular, is highly rated by McCarthy and is seen by Brian Little, the Aston Villa manager, as a possible replacement for Andy Townsend, if the Ireland captain, as rumoured, decides to take his leave of Villa Park in the summer.
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