When is a pitch invasion not really a pitch invasion

[Lar Naparka]

I don't want to pee on anyone's parade but I'm going to be a bit of a spoilsport here; I think the GAA has good reason to feel worried about pitch invasions and the consequences if they are allowed to continue.
Health and safety issues are the main problems. We're living in a litigious age, where anyone who picks up a bump or bruise of any sort is likely to look for a solicitor to put in a claim for compensation.
Personally, I have no problems with people running onto the pitch to let off steam but I think the GAA has good reason to feel worried about the cost of their insurance premiums.

[Captain Obvious]

I don't want to pee on anyone's parade but I'm going to be a bit of a spoilsport here; I think the GAA has good reason to feel worried about pitch invasions and the consequences if they are allowed to continue.
Health and safety issues are the main problems. We're living in a litigious age, where anyone who picks up a bump or bruise of any sort is likely to look for a solicitor to put in a claim for compensation.
Personally, I have no problems with people running onto the pitch to let off steam but I think the GAA has good reason to feel worried about the cost of their insurance premiums.

If health and safety plays such a big part in today's society then why is outdoor festivals,concerts still allowed?

[cornafean]

We're living in a litigious age, where anyone who picks up a bump or bruise of any sort is likely to look for a solicitor to put in a claim for compensation.

After any big game, there's a bigger risk of getting hit or injured outside Croke Park or Clones (most commonly by a drunken skanger or panhandler) than on the pitch.

[Lar Naparka]

I don't want to pee on anyone's parade but I'm going to be a bit of a spoilsport here; I think the GAA has good reason to feel worried about pitch invasions and the consequences if they are allowed to continue.
Health and safety issues are the main problems. We're living in a litigious age, where anyone who picks up a bump or bruise of any sort is likely to look for a solicitor to put in a claim for compensation.
Personally, I have no problems with people running onto the pitch to let off steam but I think the GAA has good reason to feel worried about the cost of their insurance premiums.

If health and safety plays such a big part in today's society then why is outdoor festivals,concerts still allowed?

I don't really know but I imagine the organisers have to pay a hefty whack for insurance and observe the same H&S regulations as the GAA .
There was a time when in Croker and in every other football stadium, spectators were allowed to climb up on walls or indeed onto the roofs of the stands in order to get a better view of proceedings. You may recall that some perched themselves on the frame that held up the scoreboard.
Adults could lift kids in over the turnstiles and didn't have to pay to bring them either.
"Bunting" the kids over the stiles was a time-honoured tradition the same as pitch invasions.

I can vaguely recall an incident somewhere where the roof of the dressing rooms caved in because of the  number of spectators jumping up and down on it.
Those days are gone: H&S regulations have seen to that and I'm sure the same standards apply to all other mass gatherings of people.

[Lar Naparka]

We're living in a litigious age, where anyone who picks up a bump or bruise of any sort is likely to look for a solicitor to put in a claim for compensation.

After any big game, there's a bigger risk of getting hit or injured outside Croke Park or Clones (most commonly by a drunken skanger or panhandler) than on the pitch.

Agreed but out on the street, it's a matter for the gardai, not the GAA.

[trasna man]

was great to see all the donegal fans with their players as long as it is conrolled to insure no one is hurt keep her lit

[cornafean]

We're living in a litigious age, where anyone who picks up a bump or bruise of any sort is likely to look for a solicitor to put in a claim for compensation.

After any big game, there's a bigger risk of getting hit or injured outside Croke Park or Clones (most commonly by a drunken skanger or panhandler) than on the pitch.

Agreed but out on the street, it's a matter for the gardai, not the GAA.

My point is that we don't see loads of people suing the gardai or the councils on foot of such incidents, although they do happen.

[donegal lad]

i was one of the people who climbed the fence at the oduffy terrace at the end of the game on sunday and would do it again. the feeling of being on the pitch to witness my county make history was unreal and must say that when the guard seen me jump over he just give me a sort of nod and didnt have a problem with it only person that did was the main stweard there. there would be no injuries or trouble if they would just let the people onto the field through the gates at the end of the game. they actually were gonna try stop that crowd at the bottom of the hill on sunday. by doing that they were risking way more injuries than if they would just let them on safely at the end. if donegal were to win the sam in september there is only 1 place i will want to be to see the trophy being lifted and that isnt sitting in a seat in the stand time the gaa realised this is tradition and stopping it takes away from the atmosphere slightly last years all ireland final presentation lacked any atmosphere tbh with all the dubs sitting in their seats imagine what it would of been like with them all on the field looking up to the hogan stand steps

[trasna man]

i was one of the people who climbed the fence at the oduffy terrace at the end of the game on sunday and would do it again. the feeling of being on the pitch to witness my county make history was unreal and must say that when the guard seen me jump over he just give me a sort of nod and didnt have a problem with it only person that did was the main stweard there. there would be no injuries or trouble if they would just let the people onto the field through the gates at the end of the game. they actually were gonna try stop that crowd at the bottom of the hill on sunday. by doing that they were risking way more injuries than if they would just let them on safely at the end. if donegal were to win the sam in september there is only 1 place i will want to be to see the trophy being lifted and that isnt sitting in a seat in the stand time the gaa realised this is tradition and stopping it takes away from the atmosphere slightly last years all ireland final presentation lacked any atmosphere tbh with all the dubs sitting in their seats imagine what it would of been like with them all on the field looking up to the hogan stand steps

i was stewarding the gate behind the goal at the o Duffy stand hope that wasn't you doing somersaults to get away from the supervisor great entertainment

[Lar Naparka]

We're living in a litigious age, where anyone who picks up a bump or bruise of any sort is likely to look for a solicitor to put in a claim for compensation.

After any big game, there's a bigger risk of getting hit or injured outside Croke Park or Clones (most commonly by a drunken skanger or panhandler) than on the pitch.

Agreed but out on the street, it's a matter for the gardai, not the GAA.

My point is that we don't see loads of people suing the gardai or the councils on foot of such incidents, although they do happen.

A garda on duty is allowed use reasonable force to restrain an individual  if he feels the circumstances warrant it.
Six or seven years ago, four men brought a case against a number of gardai .
They were members of an organisation that was campaigning to have cars taken off the streets in central Dublin. (I think "Save Our Streets" was the name of this crowd.)
Anyway, those four heads were pushing an old banger down Dame Street when they were intercepted by a group of gardai in riot gear.
The cops jumped out of their jeep and laid into the four boyos. Video evidence was produced in court that showed the cops knocking the bejasus out of them before hauling them off in  paddywagon. All the cops could be identified and they were shown using their boots and batons as well as their fists as the poor hoors lay helpless on the ground.
A number of bystanders testified that they had seen the cops in action and wer in no doubt that excessive force had been used.
It was 100% clear that the cops viciously assaulted their victims.
Yet, by the time court proceedings were finished, every cop was acquitted on all counts.
I do know of a number of cases where cops were found guilty of assault but the odds are stacked against anyone who brings charges against any of them