Shooting puts ‘national and global spotlight’ on rural club
THE PERSON who shot a soccer player with a stray bullet while he was playing a match in Rearcross on Saturday night has yet to come forward.
“Investigations ongoing with no developments at this time,” said a garda spokesperson.
The shocking incident happened shortly after 9pm during the second half of a match between Ballymackey FC and Rearcross FC.
Gardaí said the 32-year-old man had been participating in the soccer game being played under floodlights when the incident occurred.
Players and spectators reported hearing the player cry in pain before falling to the ground. They discovered to their shock that he had been shot in the arm.
Emergency services were alerted while club officials tended to the injured player and the league game was abandoned. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and brought by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick where the bullet was removed.
The man's wife, who is from County Limerick, told the Limerick Leader on Sunday morning: “He's fine. He's home, thank God.”
She said he was very lucky where he got shot in his body.
“He's still in a bit of shock. It's the strangest soccer injury ever I'd say,” she said. The injured man and his wife are a popular couple on both sides of the county border in east Limerick and west Tipperary.
Gardai appealed to people who may have been hunting in the area to come forward at the time. They have now renewed that appeal.
Detective Sergeant Declan O’Carroll, from Nenagh Garda Station, said: “It’s believed the shot may have come from someone who was out hunting in the area at the time.
“The bullet in question may have travelled a long distance and gardaí wish to talk to anyone who was hunting in the general area around that time on Saturday night.
“Gardaí are appealing for members of the hunting community in the area or any gun owners who may have information to contact us here at Nenagh garda station on 067 50450.”
Rearcross FC issued a statement saying all in the club are totally shocked at the turn of events on Saturday night when their Junior ‘B’ team were playing a Division 2 League game under lights and a very serious incident occurred.
“We are glad to say that our player is well and was discharged from hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery and to let him know that the whole cub is thinking of him and his family at this time.
“We would like to thank all club members who were here last night, Ballymackey FC, the match referee and the North Tipperary and District League for their help under such unforeseen circumstances. Our thanks to the paramedics who attended Rearcross FC Grounds last night and the gardai who are pursuing their investigations. We have nothing further to say at this time,” read the statement.
The club then followed up with a further statement saying that they are glad to update that the player in question is making a good recovery.
“This incident has brought unforeseen national and international spotlight on our small club in a rural setting. First and foremost, our thoughts continue to be with the player and his family and we would ask the various local and national media outlets to respect the player’s privacy and refrain from the ongoing attempts to make contact with him as recovery is the number one priority.
“We also ask the various media outlets to refrain from persistently contacting club members looking for further media interviews. The club has already issued statement details and have nothing further to add at this time,” it reads.