THE MOTHER of a 10-year-old boy killed at a soccer camp when temporary goalposts fell on him has described the accident, which caused the death of her only child, as "gross negligence".
Miriam Gallagher-Fitzgerald was speaking yesterday after her husband Patrick settled a case he took against the FAI and Holycross Soccer Club in Co Limerick, where his son Andrew died on August 5th, 2004.
The 10-year-old boy died when temporary goalposts, which were being used for target practice and which were supplied by the FAI, collapsed on him at a soccer camp organised by the football authority and Hollycross soccer club.
His father's case against the FAI and Holycross Soccer Club was settled yesterday for an undisclosed sum on the second day of the hearing.
Mr Fitzgerald was seeking damages from both organisations citing a loss of earnings due to post-traumatic stress disorder.
His wife Miriam settled a similar case when it came before the High Court in February of this year.
In 2005 at Limerick Circuit Court the couple were awarded €37,013, the maximum allowed under the 1961 Civil Liability Act.
Mr Fitzgerald had spent Thursday in the witness box giving evidence about the day his son died and how his own life has been affected by the tragic loss.
His solicitor Frances Twomey described yesterday's settlement as "significant" but said her client would have preferred not to have gone through the ordeal of giving a full day's evidence in court.