Last year I have my eye socket fractured and nose broken at a junior football game. It was a dirty elbow followed by a knee when lying on the ground. The ref didn't see it and I had a nice spell in hospital with all of the usual bills. The gaa insurance is a nightmare and I'm still trying to get money back. I have 3 kids to feed and was off work for 3 weeks.

Of course nobody at the game saw anything and wouldn't say even if they had. I went to the guards and they took the matter very seriously. They interviewed the culprit and people at the match but couldn't do anything without a witness. Now I find myself being heckeled by people when playing because I'm the guy who "went to the guards" instead of getting on with it. Can hardly step foot inside my own club for going to the guards.

Should we have a guard present at games (paid for by the gaa)?

Or should we stop our kids from playing and outlaw the game altogether?

daytona11 (Kildare) - Posts: 4012 - 17/02/2012 10:56:05    1113418

Sorry to hear that Daytona. Hope it works out and you get justice. A lot of attitudes need to change in the GAA in relation to violence and tolerating it. This is a huge task as it's a cultural shift that's required. You should be hailed as a hero for seeking the justice you deserve and not ostracised like you are.

The GAA needs to take a long hard look at other sports particularly rugby and learn some lessons from them about how people should be treated.

Grassroots football is a disrace and the acceptance for intimidation and violence needs to stop at this level first.

derfil1 (Kildare) - Posts: 1612 - 17/02/2012 11:21:14    1113440

this is a serious issue and I do feel sorry for you, put it this way if what happened to you occured in a pub the guards would be called Pub CCTV would be copied and you would have a day in court with your "friend" up for GBH charges.. because it happens within the four white lines of a GAA pitch is apparently accepted.

What would happen if you carried a civil case against your own club as you are a member and they have a "duty of care" regarding their members? would that change the outcome or get you backing... it will come to the stage when some is seriously seriously hurt at a game and unfort the gaa will pay a high price as they will have been forewarned of this types of incidents and their lack of approach to same.

Horsebox77 (Kerry) - Posts: 5491 - 17/02/2012 11:23:54    1113442

I'm a non playing member of my club and each year our family membership keeps going up ,when ask why ? at the AGM told its for players insurance costs time the GAA stood up to the mark when it comes to players insurance instead like a lot of organisations happy to take your money but not so quick to look after your needs when its needed. Hope thing work out for you Daytona .

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 17/02/2012 11:30:39    1113448

Daytona11

Firstly, sorry to hear about your injury(assault).

I know to guys who got similar, albeit not just as severe injuries last year and they are both in the same boat.

The reason I used the word assault in the opening line is because as far as Im concerned, thats all it is. Not an injury from the game, but full blown assault
Im well aware of the injuries that can come in the game, have suffered many of them myself, but an elbow to the face resulting in those sort of injuries are not to be considered part of the game.

I also think its wrong that people turn a blind eye, and even further, belittle the victim in your case. If they seen a guy getting a beating outside a shop in the middle of the day, would they laugh and heckle at him too? Why is there an assumed difference on the pitch?

People can view a GAA pitch as a place where they can get away with thuggary that wouldnt be tolerated at home or on the street.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6347 - 17/02/2012 11:47:34    1113461

Thanks for all of the well wishs lads.

I think the GAA is going to suffer big timke. I won't be letting my 3 play and I can now understand some parents ( who have never had any dealings with the gaa) won't let their kids play either.

It seems to be a risk you have to take stepping out on the field. I love playing football but it's not worth the hassle anymore.

Should we go down the soccer route?

IE ( if someone raises a hand their autmatically sent off?) Would this help aleviate the so called mass brawls etc? I think it's funny when people refer to mass brawls as "handbags". Portlaoise being the prime example.

It's not long before a mother and father will be burying their child because of the culture of violence in the gaa.

daytona11 (Kildare) - Posts: 4012 - 17/02/2012 11:56:43    1113474

Sorry to hear daytona, it is on my mind too playing, I'm self employed with 2 small kids, don't want to miss work over an injury from a pasttime, bigger priorities (smaller mouths to feed) in our lives. Unimpressed by how your club treated you, surely there are people in your situation too that should understand. The GAA needs to recogise the times we live it.
Fortyfive, our club has non playing members and playing members, playing members pay extra for insurance.

DanBreen (Kerry) - Posts: 73 - 17/02/2012 12:10:06    1113487

Sorry daytona. Some witness with guts should have come forward. Same in another sport recently where serious damage is done and nobody is held to account. Wish you the best .

Real Kerry Fan (None) - Posts: 2957 - 17/02/2012 12:12:50    1113489

Sorry to hear you got injured at a match Daytona, but get a grip of yourself man!
People get injured in contact sports, and digs are thrown! I have taken a lot of
punishment, verbally and physically at games, that is not going to stop me playing
and enjoying gaelic football. Gaelic games are tribal and gladiatorial, what would
you have your chldren play instead? I'm not trying to offend, but this outcry against
aggression in our games is becoming ridiculous!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 17/02/2012 12:22:45    1113504

daytona11
County: Kildare
Posts: 1811

1113418 Last year I have my eye socket fractured and nose broken at a junior football game. It was a dirty elbow followed by a knee when lying on the ground. The ref didn't see it and I had a nice spell in hospital with all of the usual bills. The gaa insurance is a nightmare and I'm still trying to get money back. I have 3 kids to feed and was off work for 3 weeks.

Terrible story. did you not get sick pay or S/W?

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 17/02/2012 12:30:47    1113514

Hi GateKeeper.

I'm not going to rare up becuase we're all entitled to our opinion.

I'm not taking about breaking a leg or something which is accidental. I'm talking about a lad targeting me with an elbow and then dropping a knee into me. Have you ever missed weeks of work because of the latter? Not making mortgage payments and trying to feed kids?

Nothing worse than hearing about lads in the pub sfter a game boasting about " giving a lad a dig" etc.

I still feel that in order to deal with the mass brawls players need to know that if they so much as attempt to strike ( which is the rule) they will see the line.

daytona11 (Kildare) - Posts: 4012 - 17/02/2012 12:56:10    1113551

Hi Horse. Without going to much into my work no I didn't get sick pay and s/w is a pian the neck to deal with!!

daytona11 (Kildare) - Posts: 4012 - 17/02/2012 13:03:55    1113557

Daytona - sometimes you have to seek justice on your own , if your club wont support you or the guards- then its vigilante time! Take the pr*ck down next time you see him

FairShoulder (Armagh) - Posts: 333 - 17/02/2012 13:08:19    1113563

The Insurance scheme from I can see if a joke, they seem to put so much paper work in your way as to try and avoid having you make a claim. know a few lads of have made claims but they just keep getting letters back saying we need the original copy, this needs to be countersigned, they always seem to be moving the goal posts.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 17/02/2012 13:13:46    1113568

daytona11
County: Kildare
Posts: 1813

1113557 Hi Horse. Without going to much into my work no I didn't get sick pay and s/w is a pian the neck to deal with!!


You would rather go without than deal with the S/W?? life is like that , stuff happens and you have to deal with it even if it involves a bit of mundane hassle, especially if others, 3 kids , are depending on you

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 17/02/2012 13:13:53    1113569

daytona11, who were you playing against in the game you were injured. ?

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5520 - 17/02/2012 13:24:49    1113582

Awful injuries alright. Dosen't surprise me with the Insurance though!
A number of years ago a player took another player and his club to court over an incident where his teeth were knocked out with a deliberate elbow and after the club of the offending player refused to pay the dentists bill. The ref dealt with the issue on the day and sent the player off but when it came to court the ref and so called witnesses were not forthcoming with info. The Judge ordered the club to pay 10 times what the original cost was and warned the referee and so called withess about their conduct and was hinting he was prepaired to charge them with contempt. People keep their mouths shut when it happens to someone else but if it happened to them then it's a different story

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1205 - 17/02/2012 13:36:47    1113598

Sorry to hear about that Daytona. Unfortunately an all too common story.

Out of interest which Tyrone club were you playing?
Sorry, couldn't resist. It's my Friday joke contribution.

Superglue (Kerry) - Posts: 1283 - 17/02/2012 13:52:11    1113617

sgoldrick,

I'd really rather not say. I suppose I'm not really trying to highlight was happend to myself per say. Just the fact that it's happeing all over the country. The other point i'd like to make is the issue of "ah it was a only a dig".

I've said it numerous times, only a matter of times until someone is killed.

daytona11 (Kildare) - Posts: 4012 - 17/02/2012 13:55:39    1113622

I'd really rather not say. I suppose I'm not really trying to highlight was happend to myself per say. Just the fact that it's happeing all over the country. The other point i'd like to make is the issue of "ah it was a only a dig".

I've said it numerous times, only a matter of times until someone is killed.

Very dramatic daytona!

Real Kerry Fan (None) - Posts: 2957 - 17/02/2012 14:18:58    1113643