Staunton sets sights on Holland match after gun scare
Gardaí are still questioning a man in Dublin in relation to an incident in which Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton was approached by a man armed with a gun outside the team hotel in Portmarnock.
It is understood a man in his 30s approached Staunton holding a gun, at which point Staunton, 37, promptly turned and fled.
Staunton informed hotel staff of the situation, who in turn contacted local gardaí. The assailant was caught on a nearby beach.
Although no weapon has yet been found, the man, who is believed to have a history of psychiatric problems, was arrested and taken to a nearby station in Malahide.
A statement from the Football Association of Ireland read: “The FAI can confirm an incident took place outside the Republic of Ireland team hotel in Portmarnock…The matter is now being dealt with by the Gardaí.
“The Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Staunton is absolutely fine and looking forward to training.”
A spokesperson for the Gardaí confirmed: “We have one man in custody in relation to an incident that happened in Portmarnock shortly before 8pm. He was arrested in the vicinity under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Gardaí are continuing to search the area for the weapon.”
Staunton is currently preparing for Ireland’s friendly with Holland at Lansdowne Road tomorrow.
The former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Coventry defender has only been in charge of Ireland’s national team since January.
The clash with the Dutch will be his third game in charge following a 3-0 win over Sweden in March, followed by a 1-0 defeat to Chile at the end of May.
It is the second time an armed incident has occurred at the Portmarnock Hotel while the Irish team were there.
Almost three years ago an armed raider fired a shotgun blast into the ceiling of the hotel as players enjoyed an evening meal.
Two armed and masked men had entered the lobby of the hotel on November 17, 2003, and demanded money. The robbers stole about €1,000 and one of them fired a single shot from the shotgun as they fled.
No one was injured in that incident either.
For Staunton, Ireland’s most-capped player with 102 appearances to his name, this latest fixture has been blighted by problems.
Ten days ago Staunton’s right-hand man in former England manager Bobby Robson was taken ill before Ipswich’s opening Championship game of the season, a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Portman Road.
Ireland’s international football consultant then spent two nights at Ipswich Hospital under observation following a series of tests prior to being released.
Robson, however, will not be in attendance for the game with Holland, along with seven players who have been forced to withdraw over the past few days through injury.
Staunton is without both captain Robbie Keane and vice-captain Shay Given due to thigh and back problems, while Richard Dunne, Ian Harte, Alan Lee, Stephen Ireland and Terry Dixon have also pulled out.
