Family of past victim recalls pain of their loss

THE great grandfather of a boy who died last year after being hit by a falling crossbar has called for a campaign to make goalposts safer.

Co Louth schoolboy Lee Lucchesi, who was the same age as Andrew Fitzgerald, died last September after being struck on the head as he played with a group of children at a pitch in Navan, Co Meath.

His great grandfather, Alvaro, said his family is still suffering desperately following the child’s death. “We can never get over it,” he said.

Mr Lucchesi expressed his deepest sympathy for the Fitzgerald family and said accidents like the ones that killed the two boys are avoidable.

“My personal opinion is that they should be avoidable. They should happen at all. If a child is not safe playing football, then where is he safe?” he said.

He believes measures should be taken to make soccer in Ireland safer. “Accidents like this one seem to be happening far too often in both Ireland and England. I would support a campaign to make goalposts safer,” said Mr Lucchesi.

“Something has to be done to stop more accidents. The poor family in Limerick are heartbroken this morning and are going through hell.

“This should not be allowed to happen to anybody else.

“This is an absolutely terrible thing to happen. It brings back terrible memories and I really feel for the family of that little boy.”