Notice required for all road events

Clubs organising long puck and other competitions that take place on roads have been told they must provide advance notice of their events if they are to be covered by the GAA’s insurance.

The Association’s risks and insurance manager Sinead Leavy revealed some clubs only informed her on the day of their gatherings they were going ahead.

“Events that take place on a road are not automatically covered unless notified in advance,” said Leavy.

“Cover is always provided on condition of the liability insurance. A template is then created and then all the clubs need to do is fill in the blanks. Clubs obviously aren’t taking for granted the safety of their players or volunteers. They do have controls in place but when they don’t put down in writing I have no chance of defending a liability and unfortunately Ireland is highly litigious. It has always been the condition of a policy but like many things they don’t get read. Cork would traditionally have a large number of the long puck competitions and the county board reminded clubs of the need to fill in the document.

“The players are covered by the injury scheme when they are participating but it was just a matter of protecting ourselves because too many are quick to go to a solicitor before they go to a doctor.”

Most of the claims made have been “slips and trips” by spectators, says Leavy. “There would also be claims for property damage, balls hitting cars or property”.

Meanwhile, Leavy reports a €200,000 increase in claims on the national player insurance fund while the number of hip, knee and shoulder injuries remain the most commonly claimed operation-required injuries. But there has been a welcome drop in teeth operations.