He will be the team’s guest of honour at their match against Senegal at the Aviva Stadium in June.
Mason Geraghty, who was rushed to hospital earlier this month after being stabbed in the back at St. Finian’s National School, will be the team’s guest of honour at their match against Senegal at the Aviva Stadium in June.
A video posted to social media shows Collins, who also plays for Brentford FC, welcoming Mason and his younger brother Scott to the team’s training session
“I heard what happened to you, but you're a good, strong boy,” the defender told him.
“I don’t know how you do that but the lads wanted to give you this,” he said, before presenting the boy with a signed jersey.
Mason, who was kitted out in an Ireland kit, beamed as he received the gift and was invited along to their game on June 6th.
It comes as the young boy, who is undergoing physiotherapy, began attending a new school this week.
“He is looking forward to starting in a new school with his two younger brothers. There’s no way we could send him back to that school after what happened,” Mason’s father Stephen Geraghty told the Sunday Independent.
Adding that he is considering legal action against the school where his son was stabbed, saying that his son has suffered psychological trauma and may need counselling for years as a result of the attack
“This is not about money, it’s about accountability,” he said.
Mason Geraghty, and his brother Scott (right) is presented with a signed jersey by Nathan Collins
Mason Geraghty, and his brother Scott (right) is presented with a signed jersey by Nathan Collins
“I will take this to the highest court in the land if I have to. My son deserves that.
“And this should never, ever happen again — 99.9% of children know not to bring a knife to school.”
“My son couldn’t walk for five days. He nearly died,” he added.
“Under the Children’s Act, a child under the age of 12 is incapable of committing an offence, although there are exceptions, including murder and serious sexual assaults, so there will be no criminal investigation into the stabbing.
“The boy is suspected of having brought a knife he found in the kitchen of his home to the school.
“If it’s not the fault of the boy who did it, then who is responsible?”
“We need answers for him. He is going to have psychological issues for years. Our entire family is traumatised.”