Calls for mandatory screening after fourth boy dies

THERE are calls for mandatory heart screening of all schoolchildren after four young boys died playing sports in one week.

The latest victim, 13-year-old Patrick Devlin, collapsed during a GAA training session in Ardboe in Co Tyrone on Saturday morning.

Efforts to revive him were made with a defibrillator that was donated to the club by the family of Cormac McAnallen, Tyrone senior football captain, who died of a mystery coronary condition three years ago.

The latest death came as mourners gathered for the funeral of Patrick Breen, 10, from Dregish, also in Co Tyrone. He died after a GAA training session on Tuesday evening.

Just hours earlier, 16-year-old Tony Parker collapsed and died during a PE class in Moate, Co Westmeath. And on Friday, 16-year-old Pakistani student Zeeshan Mohammed collapsed while playing football in a schoolyard at the Marist College in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

All four boys are believed to have died from SADS — Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome — which kills between 60 and 80 young people in Ireland each year.

Brendan McAnallen, father of Cormac, said four similar deaths in Ireland this week should prompt official action.

“While I don’t know the full facts of this latest case, I think that whether you play sports or not every young person should be screened because every young person plays sports, not just athletes.

“The reality at the end of the day is that no matter what you are doing, if you are under 40 years of age you are at risk, although the majority seem to be active in sport and that seems to be the problem.”

Meanwhile, GAA Ulster Council secretary Danny Murphy said the future of hurling and football as youth sports is uncertain following the deaths of two boys playing GAA within four days.

Mr Murphy says shock is not an adequate word to describe how people feel.

“Everyone is finding it difficult to comprehend that another young player has died participating in our games. It definitely does make one have some reservations about the future.”

Patrick Devlin collapsed during a break in training in the Ardboe O’Donovan Rossa Club. Attempts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead on arrival at Craigavon Area Hospital.

A spokesman for the club, Neil Coney, said: “He was at training at the time but was standing around when he collapsed. He was a very likeable young fellow. He just loved football and always wanted to play.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners were attending the funeral of Patrick Breen, 10. His coffin was carried into St Patrick’s Church in Drumquin covered in red and white flowers — the colours of his Tyrone team.

Parish priest Dr Com O’Doherty said the GAA “was Patrick’s love”. He said Patrick wanted to go to “big school”, get picked for the school team and “eventually play for his beloved Co Tyrone”.

Meanwhile post-mortem results 16-year-old Zeeshan Mohammed have not yet been released. He collapsed and died while involved in a minor kickaround in the grounds of the Marist College, Athlone, at 2pm on Friday.

School authorities confirmed the school will remain closed today as a mark of respect to Zeeshan, described as “a brilliant and popular boy” by a teacher.

A memorial service took place at Clonskeagh Mosque yesterday with school friends travelling from Westmeath to attend.

Psychologists from the National Educational Pyschological Service have been in contact with the school and will be offering counselling to students and teachers.

Representatives from the HSE have already held discussions with the school management about the best way of helping students and teachers through the trauma of the loss.