Chorley Dad's fury at claims schoolteacher cheered about son's injury

Twelve-year-old Ethan Fitzgerald, from Chorley, was seriously injured on the rugby field during a semi-final cup game for his club Chorley Panthers, leaving him needing surgery to wire his arm back together.

But Ethan’s classmates at Holy Cross High School claim that when told about his terrible injury, a teacher celebrated it by cheering the word ‘yes’, whilst ‘fist pumping’ in the air.

The school says the incident has been dealt with and all parties have been spoken to.

But dad Tony Fitzgerald is calling for disciplinary action over the incident.

Tony said: “I feel very shocked and disturbed about the whole matter.

“When you are talking about the illness, pain and suffering of a child, I don’t understand how a professional teacher can say something like that – it’s absolutely disgusting.

“Ethan says he doesn’t want to go back to this teacher’s subject when he goes back to school because he is feeling quite down about what has happened.

“We are so alarmed and distressed that anyone in this position can say anything along these lines – he has been completely unprofessional.”

Ivan Gaughan, headteacher of Holy Cross School, said: “This is an internal matter and we’ve spoken to the pupil involved, his parents and the member of staff.

“I consider the matter closed.”