I was getting ready to post my weekly Irish blogger Gathering post this morning when I read the horribly tragic news about Declan Sullivan, a 20-year old student at Notre Dame, whose life was cut short when the scissor lift that he was in fell over, causing mortal injuries. He died later at Memorial Hospital. Declan was filming football practice.
I am deeply saddened by this tragedy, and as a member of the Notre Dame and South Bend community, my heart goes out to the friends and family of Declan Sullivan. There will be a mass on campus tonight at 10 o'clock p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
There will be no IBG post this week, as now football has taken a back seat to this tragedy. Indeed, I no longer care whether we win or lose against Tulsa, or even if we play the game.
Also, I am infuriated that this young man was even up in the lift yesterday. As I was walking down the street in South Bend yesterday, I literally had to lean into the wind to stay upright myself. It was the worst wind storm I've ever seen in my time living here. The person who was responsible for asking that young man to take a mobile scissor lift 60 feet into the air under such conditions should be held accountable for their gross negligence. This is an inexcusable tragedy that could have been prevented by a little application of common sense.
I cannot imagine the pain and suffering his family is going through right now. Please say a prayer for them in their time of need.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of Declan Sullivan and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
2 comments:
My heart goes out to the Sullivan family, but they need a lawyer on the ground in South Bend right now. Swarbrick is already spinning ("sudden gust of wind" my a**), and ND is going to try to snow them while they are still mourning.
The university needs to be held accountable.
They need a lawyer, and they need to find one that cannot be pressured by ND. Preferably someone local who will know a line of BS when s/he sees it. Someone who has been successful in litigation against ND before (there are a few, as any local can attest).
Though no amount of money can replace the loss of a human being, I think 100 or 200 million dollars to the family would leave an impression in the institutional gray matter not soon to be forgotten.
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