GAA agree to raise Hill 16 barrier

[sarah_lennon]

Disaster waiting to happen
rte.ie

The Central Council of the GAA have endorsed a recommendation to increase the height of the front barrier at the Hill 16 end in Croke Park to 2.8metres.

The decision has been made after the unsavoury incidents that followed Meath's victory in the Leinster Senior Football final as referee Martin Sludden was attacked by supporters.

GAA President Christy Cooney warned last month that something had to be done about pitch invasions for the safety of players and fans.

[FatBoyChoice]

Disaster waiting to happen

Don't see why. Everyone thinks fence = another Hillsborough/Heysel. Both of those incidents happened due to poor crowd control, overcrowding and poorly designed (and maintained) terraces.

I'd say there is much more chance of disaster by continuing to allow idiots to fight their way through stewards.

[simplythebest]

Can't understand why they just don't arm the stewarts with Tasers. It would be much more effective and a hell of a lot of fun to watch for the rest of the spectators.

[Donald]

Can't see the reasoning behind this really seeing as most of the fans that attacked the referee came from the Hogan, Cusach and Canal end. The stewards along the stands are really pathetic at stopping fans encroaching onto the pitch, the police are too busy drinking their tea on their overtime pay and then it all just resorts to PLAN B!

[sarah_lennon]

Was anyone charged following the Leinster final?

[Mackman15]

What does it say of the attendees at the four sports that are played at the venue that its only the two GAA sports that suffer from this issue.
How about people just stopping it and dispel this bull about the god given right to walk the hallowed turf.......

[Sauvignon Blank]

What does it say of the attendees at the four sports that are played at the venue that its only the two GAA sports that suffer from this issue.
How about people just stopping it and dispel this bull about the god given right to walk the hallowed turf.......

Indeed.

[Cianostays]

Very dissappointed with this decision tbh. Whilst I don't think it's going to lead to a Heysel/Hillsborough tragedy repeat, it does increase the potential. I've seen the work the gardaí and the saftey people do in Croke Park on a match day and it's amzing the amount or preperation done for a matchday so there won't be an overcrowding situation on the hill. I'd have thought a draconian fine for anyone entering onto the field after a match would be the way to go.

[Mackman15]

Very dissappointed with this decision tbh. Whilst I don't think it's going to lead to a Heysel/Hillsborough tragedy repeat, it does increase the potential. I've seen the work the gardaí and the saftey people do in Croke Park on a match day and it's amzing the amount or preperation done for a matchday so there won't be an overcrowding situation on the hill. I'd have thought a draconian fine for anyone entering onto the field after a match would be the way to go.

Draconian fines get appealled and reduced by District Court judges. I go back to my previous point and would suggest that the lesson starts with thicko parents that throw their children over the barrier to run onto the field just like at home at the Junior 'B' Final were 73 people are in attendance.

Just stop doing it.

[olaf the fat]

The recent documentary on croker shows that after the plan B incident, they only wanted to slow the fans down to give time to erect a barrier around the stand for the presentation, it takes about 30 seconds to do. But still drunk yobs try to fight their way onto the pitch as the game finishes. I did not have any problem with the fans going onto the pitch before I saw this, after all it was the way we do it - but after seeing that my opinion has changed.

But, it could be another 40 years before they will have to worry about The Wee County Fans and finals again.

[Cianostays]

Very dissappointed with this decision tbh. Whilst I don't think it's going to lead to a Heysel/Hillsborough tragedy repeat, it does increase the potential. I've seen the work the gardaí and the saftey people do in Croke Park on a match day and it's amzing the amount or preperation done for a matchday so there won't be an overcrowding situation on the hill. I'd have thought a draconian fine for anyone entering onto the field after a match would be the way to go.

Draconian fines get appealled and reduced by District Court judges. I go back to my previous point and would suggest that the lesson starts with thicko parents that throw their children over the barrier to run onto the field just like at home at the Junior 'B' Final were 73 people are in attendance.

Just stop doing it.

I agree with you but alas it'll take more than 3 weeks for said thicko parents to get the point. If government legislation were introduced, I believe fines would be the way to go.