Parents angry over use of unsafe goalposts

THE parents of a Limerick schoolboy who died when a goalpost fell on him have expressed concern that dangerous sports equipment is still being used, despite yesterday’s launch of new safety standards for goalposts.

Miriam Gallagher, the mother of 10-year-old Andrew Fitzgerald from Kilmallock, Co Limerick, who died as a result of injuries when hit by a falling goalpost in August 2004, said she was horrified that children playing sports were still facing the same risk.

“An underage soccer match was cancelled in Murroe, Limerick, at the weekend because the referee deemed that the goalposts weren’t safe. While it’s a positive step that the game was called off, it is unacceptable that such equipment is still in use,” said Ms Gallagher.

Andrew’s father, Pat Fitzgerald, said it was also unacceptable that the Health and Safety Authority is unable to investigate the death of a child on a sports field.

“We want children to be afforded the same protection and safety levels that people in the workplace currently enjoy,” said Mr Fitzgerald.

Both parents welcomed the new set of safety standards for goalposts launched by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, which they said would act as a legacy to the memory of their only child.

Speaking at the launch, Commerce Minister John McGuinness said the standards were a response to the deaths of four children in the past decade from goalpost-related injuries.