Thursday, June 09, 2011

Kildare priest warns about danger of children falling from church balconies

A County Kildare parish priest has urged parents to be vigilant when bringing young children up to the gallery space in churches when attending mass after a two-year toddler had a dramatic escape after falling nearly 20 feet during a First Communion ceremony last weekend.  

The toddler was attending Mass  in Naas in County Kildare with his parentswhen he fell from the gallery of a packed church during a First Holy Communion celebration.  

Parish priest Fr Tom McDonnell revealed how the child miraculously escaped uninjured. 

He said, “He managed to get up on the balustrade of the gallery and climbed over it.  He's only two and he's inclined to be very active.  It happened while everyone was standing for the gospel and he landed on the shoulders of a man who broke his fall.” 

“Obviously he was frightened and there was lots of crying.  His parents rushed down to comfort him.  Thankfully a doctor happened to be among the parishioners and was able to check if he needed first aid.  He was later taken to Tallaght hospital and was given the all clear.”

Fr McDonnell said that the incident was a lesson for all to be very careful when using galleries in churches, as many were built in the early 1900's long before modern health and safety measures were implemented. 

“Particularly in churches in the country, the balustrades and railings wouldn't be high enough.  This is something that in hindsight shouldn't have happened.  We want to ensure that everything is made safe here and that nothing similar happens anywhere else.” 

He added that the balcony area will be among one of the first things to be looked at as part of a renovation planned for Our Lady and Saint David's Parish Church on the Sallins Road.