Showing posts with label appeal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label appeal. Show all posts

Monday, August 1, 2011

GAA coma man's family in appeal

29 July 2011 Last updated at 17:38 GMT Mark McGovern Mark McGovern has been in a coma since the match The family of a gaelic footballer who has been in a coma since a match in the US last month want the opposing team to be suspended from all competitions.

Mark McGovern, 20, from Belcoo in Fermanagh, suffered a head injury in an off-the-ball incident in San Francisco.

His parents and three sisters have maintained a vigil at his hospital bedside for the last five weeks.

They claim the Celts, the team Mark was playing against, are not cooperating fully with the San Francisco police.

In a statement, the Celts said: "The San Francisco Celts continue to hold Mark McGovern and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

"The San Francisco Celts have been, and will continue to co-operate with all investigations regarding the incident."

A GAA spokesman said that the GAA felt it would be inappropriate to comment while there was still an ongoing investigation.

Mark's father, Danny, said he was saddened by what he said was a lack of co-operation from the Celts team.

"They're (the police) getting good co-operation from Mark's team but from the opposing team there's none of them coming up with information.

"They have videos and they're not bringing them up at all," Mr McGovern said.

"I have done my best this week to get them barred completely from playing football.

"They played a football match the following week after Mark's injury.

Continue reading the main story
We're here every day, seven days a week sitting at his bedside being confident and being strong around him because we feel that he knows we are there”

End Quote Sister of coma victim Mark McGovern "I do believe the president of the GAA is flying out to see Mark next Tuesday. We'll put pressure on him to get them suspended."

Mark arrived in the USA for a three-month stint with Ulster San Francisco the week before he was injured.

He was accompanied by two other members of his team Belcoo O'Rahilly's. The opposing Celts side is made up mostly of US-born players.

'Signs of improvement'

Mark was given immediate medical assistance at the scene after he was injured and put into a medically induced coma, from which he has yet to emerge.

Danny said he had shown slight signs of improvement.

"Mark has improved slightly. As they say in the hospital baby steps every day in the right direction," he said.

Mark's sister Connie said the family would stay with him until they could bring him home.

"We're here every day, seven days a week sitting at his bedside being confident and being strong around him because we feel that he knows we are there," she said.


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Thursday, July 14, 2011

NI ministers in appeal for calm

11 July 2011 Last updated at 05:16 GMT Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson have made an appeal for calm over the summer The first and deputy first ministers have appealed for calm ahead of the annual 12 July parades, after disturbances at the weekend.

A number of police officers were injured during rioting in County Antrim at the weekend.

It followed disturbances in Lurgan and Craigavon last week.

First Minister Peter Robinson said that although there were occasions when feelings might run high, "violence and rioting is not the answer".

The ministers said "extensive work" had been undertaken by their office with community leaders in recent weeks to identify and calm potential flashpoints.

Mr Robinson called on "everyone to take a step back and think of the consequences before doing something which you will later regret".

Peaceful summer

"In recent weeks the eyes of the world have focused in on Northern Ireland for both all the right reasons and, unfortunately, all the wrong reasons," he said.

"As a government we are continuing to work hard to create jobs and investment and to build and grow our economy.

"We must not allow the progress that has been made to be thwarted by those who want to drag us back to the past. We are determined to build a better and brighter future for all in Northern Ireland.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said it was "in the interests of everyone" to ensure that Northern Ireland had a "peaceful summer".

He said: "A lot of people have devoted many hours to ensuring that there is a bright future for us and our children.

"As a government we are committed to creating a better future for all. Some recent events do not help.

"Issues surrounding a small number of contentious parades need to be resolved.

"I call on elected representatives, community leaders and indeed everyone in positions of authority within local communities to use their influence wisely this summer."


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