A LEADING doctor has warned GAA players that punching someone on the pitch is more dangerous than in a boxing ring and carries the risk of instant death.
Dr Dermot Grant served for 10 years as a medical officer for the British Boxing Board of Control and, speaking at last night’s launch of the AIB Ulster Club Championships at the home of reigning three-code champions Slaughtneil, he highlighted how boxing’s greater precautions contrasted very favourably with the average GAA game.
Dr Grant told players and mentors from a host of clubs around the province that the average GAA game carried significantly higher risk than a professional boxing match.
Under boxing’s rules, there must be two doctors present at a bout with oxygen and a stretcher at ringside. The bout must take place within a one-hour maximum transfer period from the venue, and the on-call neurosurgeon at the nearest hospital must be informed of the fight taking place.
“Adjust your mindset to an average GAA game,” said Dr Grant, who warned that punches to the body as well as the head can potentially be fatal.
“Somebody hits you a kick in the back of the leg and you turn, perfect, with a right hook ready to give him one – very dangerous.
“There are certain things to bear in mind. It’s 50-50 that there’s not a doctor, nurse or any trained personnel there at all.
“It’s unlikely there’ll be any oxygen or a stretcher, there’s probably no ambulance and there definitely will not be a neurosurgeon on call waiting for you to phone.
“The risks that you have to think about in that split second before you punch somebody are very, very serious. I think especially young people should be really reminded of that. Boxing is a very dangerous sport, but if you think about it, without the safety net that boxing tries to provide, hitting somebody on the pitch is even more dangerous.”
Dr Grant was reiterating a message delivered by Ulster GAA’s Head of Community Development, and former Armagh forward Diarmaid Marsden.
Marsden warned of the potential physical, mental and legal ramifications of a single blow struck on a GAA pitch, and said that doing so in a mass brawl as opposed to an isolated incident would not protect the assailant in a court of law.
“The confines of the pitch do not make you immune to the laws of the land,” he said.
“Physically and mentally, to a victim of a serious blow to a person’s head, there can be significant impact to that person’s life.
“The impact and consequences are just as relevant if they happen on the pitch as they would be if they happened out on the street.
“Ultimately, the individual will be responsible for their action, whether playing, supporting or coaching a team.
“A broken jaw from a sporting punch will be treated as Grievous Bodily Harm. I don’t think people realise that.
“If you’re reported for assault or GBH, the match video will be seized and you’ll be taken into a police station and interviewed.
“Mass brawls do not mean you become invisible. Each individual will have to represent themselves in court. Whether it’s assault, Actual Bodily Harm, Grievous Bodily Harm, manslaughter or murder, these things can happen and have been known to happen.
“It’s only a matter of time before that happens on our pitches. If you have any responsibility, please make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Ulster GAA president Michael Hasson added: “As Gaels, we’re all concerned and condemn some of the recent incidents in our games.”
