Ireland team rally around Robbie Keane after death of cousins
By Brendan O’Brien, Irish Examiner
Saturday’s European Championship qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, long talked of in life-or-death terms in the context of Group D, was made to look a very trivial matter indeed on Friday afternoon.
Alan and Stephen Harris both lost their lives this week. It is believed that the brothers, who are cousins of Ireland captain Robbie Keane, were overcome by toxic fumes while working on a sewer system in North Dublin on Wednesday.
Stephen Harris
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“We feel for the family and he is quite down at the minute,” said Ireland manager Martin O’Neill of Keane. “I’m hoping that he will come round and if he feels that he wants to participate in the game tomorrow that will be entirely his decision.”
It was a difficult and delicate situation, but questions had to be asked and therefore answered by O’Neill and John O’Shea, even if they could say very little beyond declaring their support for Keane and the rest of those friends and family affected by such an appalling situation.
“It’s very sad news and I echo the sentiments of the manager,” said O’Shea.
“We’ll look after Robbie and if he needs any support we will be there. He is a very good professional, but obviously football does take a back step when something like that happens.”
