Monday November 10, 2008
A footballer's apparent dedication of a goal to a fellow player who was jailed for killing two boys while driving drunk has provoked anger.
Norris can be seen making a handcuff gesture (Pic: Sky Sports)
Ipswich midfielder David Norris made a handcuffed wrists gesture to goalkeeper Luke McCormick after scoring the winning goal against Blackpool on Saturday.
McCormick is serving seven years over the deaths of 10-year-old Arron Peak and his eight-year-old brother Ben.
The brothers, from Partington in Manchester, were killed when McCormick's black 4x4 ploughed into their car at 100mph on the M6 in Staffordshire on June 7.
Experts said the goalkeeper was "at best semi-conscious" after drinking all night.
The 25-year-old, a former England youth international, pleaded guilty to causing their deaths by dangerous driving and to drink driving.
Earlier this year, Premier League star Tim Cahill apologised for a 'handcuffs' goal celebration aimed at his brother who is in jail for a vicious attack.
The Everton midfielder marked his shot against Portsmouth in March by pretending his wrists were chained.
Jailed goalkeeper Luke McCormick
After the weekend match, Norris defended his own gesture.
"It wasn't a handcuff sign, it was a private message, but I can see how people might have seen it like that and I apologise wholeheartedly if it has caused any offence," he said.
"Luke is a good friend of mine and I have told him I will visit him in prison, but he made a massive mistake and he is rightly paying the price for it."
Arron and Ben with mum Amanda
However, Amanda Peak, the mother of the two dead boys, told the Daily Mirror that she was "disgusted" with Norris.
"To celebrate a goal like that is disrespectful to me and my husband and my boys. He should be given a ban by his club," she said.
"Norris is doing this in front of thousands of supporters, including children, and sending out the wrong message that we can drink and drive and it's okay to kill someone."
what a ****ing ******
A footballer's apparent dedication of a goal to a fellow player who was jailed for killing two boys while driving drunk has provoked anger.
Norris can be seen making a handcuff gesture (Pic: Sky Sports)
Ipswich midfielder David Norris made a handcuffed wrists gesture to goalkeeper Luke McCormick after scoring the winning goal against Blackpool on Saturday.
McCormick is serving seven years over the deaths of 10-year-old Arron Peak and his eight-year-old brother Ben.
The brothers, from Partington in Manchester, were killed when McCormick's black 4x4 ploughed into their car at 100mph on the M6 in Staffordshire on June 7.
Experts said the goalkeeper was "at best semi-conscious" after drinking all night.
The 25-year-old, a former England youth international, pleaded guilty to causing their deaths by dangerous driving and to drink driving.
Earlier this year, Premier League star Tim Cahill apologised for a 'handcuffs' goal celebration aimed at his brother who is in jail for a vicious attack.
The Everton midfielder marked his shot against Portsmouth in March by pretending his wrists were chained.
Jailed goalkeeper Luke McCormick
After the weekend match, Norris defended his own gesture.
"It wasn't a handcuff sign, it was a private message, but I can see how people might have seen it like that and I apologise wholeheartedly if it has caused any offence," he said.
"Luke is a good friend of mine and I have told him I will visit him in prison, but he made a massive mistake and he is rightly paying the price for it."
Arron and Ben with mum Amanda
However, Amanda Peak, the mother of the two dead boys, told the Daily Mirror that she was "disgusted" with Norris.
"To celebrate a goal like that is disrespectful to me and my husband and my boys. He should be given a ban by his club," she said.
"Norris is doing this in front of thousands of supporters, including children, and sending out the wrong message that we can drink and drive and it's okay to kill someone."
what a ****ing ******
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