Only son died in my arms, mother tells inquest

A MOTHER watched her only child die in her arms after a goalpost fell on him at a summer soccer camp in Co Limerick, an inquest heard yesterday.

Miriam Fitzgerald said her son, Andy was very special, as she was unable to have any other children. He was coming up to his 11th birthday when the accident happened last August.

Ms Fitzgerald recalled at the inquest in Limerick, how she rushed to Holy Cross Soccer Club, near her home in Bruff on August 5, after she received a phone call telling her Andy had been badly injured.

She said: “Andy was lying face down and I lifted him up and his lips were blue. I tried to give him mouth to mouth resuscitation.”

A short time later Andy was pronounced dead with serious head injuries.

Ms Fitzgerald said yesterday: “Andrew was our life, the only child Pat (her husband) and I can have, and nothing or no one else can take his place.”

The hearing was told that a goalpost was blown over and fell on Andrew.

The hearing was told a canvas practice screen, which covered the face of the goal mouth, billowed with a sail-like effect, due to a strong wind and this was responsible for toppling the structure.

The Minister for Sport and the FAI are to be asked that in future mobile goalposts should be pinned to the ground, the inquest also heard.

The Fitzgeralds are taking legal proceedings against the Football Association of Ireland and Holy Cross Soccer Club.