POST MORTEM INDICATES NO FOUL PLAY IN DEATH OF IRISH FAN JAMES NOLAN IN POLAND

A post mortem on Irish soccer fan James Nolan who was found dead in a canal in Poland, indicates that he drowned.

James Nolan, 21, went missing last Sunday in Bydgoszcz in Poland and his body was discovered yesterday by police divers.

Polish prosecutor Wlodzimierz Marszalkowski has said that there were no external or internal injuries that could suggest foul play.

Wlodzimierz Marszalkowski said that “there is no other hypothesis than an accident, there are no doubts, no circumstances to suggest otherwise.”

He said that Polish prosecutors will nevertheless continue to check security camera footage in an effort to clarify the circumstances of the drowning.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Bydgoszcz has asked the UEFA President for a minute’s silence ahead of one of the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, in memory of James Nolan whose body was found yesterday.

It is believed Mr Nolan accidentally fell into the water 500m from the bar where he had been socialising with friends.

He was in Poland with friends for Euro 2012.

Vincent Balfe, the Chairman of Blessington FC, knew Mr Nolan, and said this morning that it was meant to be the “trip of a lifetime” for the young man.

He said: “It’s something he had looked forward to for so long and saved for so long and obviously our hearts go out to the other lads who were over there with him.

“The six guys are all local lads as well, some of them are his clubmates here in the football club.

“It’s something they had just set their hearts on for a long long time, a trip of a lifetime, and unfortunately turned into a nightmare.”

Hundreds of residents of the Polish city gathered along the river Brda this morning in an outpouring of sympathy.

Flowers, candles and photos of Mr Nolan adorned with black ribbons lined an area of a bank of the river.

Bydgoszcz Mayor Rafal Bruski said the minute’s silence would “be a symbolic gesture of respect from all of us, showing that in such moments the great football family is united.”

In a letter to Michel Platini he wrote: “Let us pay tribute to the Irish, the best supporters of the tournament. Let it be a day of solidarity with those who are the most affected by this untimely death,” Mr Bruski added in a separate public declaration.

“An Irish flag flew at half-mast in front of city hall, and green-white-orange flags will adorn the historic city centre where the tragedy occurred,” said Bydgoszcz cityhall spokesman Piotr Kurek.

“This is not entirely consistent with official protocol, but we wanted to express our solidarity with Ireland,” he added.

Cafes and restaurants in the city’s central tourist district decorated their windows with Irish flags, flowers and photos of Mr Nolan with black ribbons.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0621/james-nolan-poland.html