A TEENAGE girl who had suffered a neck injury when a goalpost fell on her six years ago while she was a goalie at a Gaelic football match has settled her action against the GAA for €50,000 damages.
Jessica Fidgeon Cush, Orlynn Park, Lusk, Co Dublin, was 11 when the incident occurred on October 21st, 2006, while she was on a pitch at Starlights GAA Club, Collinstown.
In evidence, Ms Cush said she did not know what happened when the goalpost fell and hit her on the head.
After the incident, she took a break from Gaelic football and played soccer instead in a midfield position, she said.
“I moved out of goals. I did not want to tempt fate,” she told the president of the High Court, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, who approved the settlement.
Earlier, Richard Kean SC, for Ms Cush, said she was knocked to the ground when hit on the head by the goalpost.
He said she suffered a significant trauma and it was later discovered she had suffered a neck injury. She suffered nightmares and flashbacks after the incident and also suffered from headaches, counsel added.
Through her father Philip, Ms Cush had sued the GAA as the association responsible for the organisation, control and supervision of the playing of Gaelic games in the State and the association responsible for Starlights GAA Club.
It was claimed Ms Cush was, on October 21st, 2006, participating in a Gaelic football match when, owing to the alleged negligence and breach of duty of the GAA, its servants or agents, she was caused to suffer and sustain severe personal injury loss and damage when a goalpost suddenly and without warning struck her on the head.
It was claimed the goalpost had been allowed to be or to remain in a dangerous and unsafe condition. There was failure to carry out any appropriate inspection of the goalpost and to ensure it was adequately secured, it was alleged.
Ms Cush, it was claimed, was extremely shocked and shaken and sustained an injury to her neck and had to wear a neck collar afterwards.
She had a clicking sensation in her neck for some time afterwards.
It was further claimed Ms Cush had a fear of dying after the event and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident.