Son's death behind Mullingar man's European crusade

Peter Downes has been a farmer and horse breeder all of his life, but when his sixteen-year-old son Stephen died tragically after a fall from his horse at his home in Russellstown Stud, Mullingar back in 1995, Peter began a lengthy campaign to improve the safety of riding helmets.For over ten years now, Peter has petitioned the European Parliament in Brussels, pressing for the enforcement of new safely levels on riding helmets.As a result of his efforts, a new European safety standard on high-performance helmets for equestrian activities was developed in October 2005.However it since emerged that no newly-designed helmets have been placed on the market because of concerns that the new standards would result in helmets being too heavy and cumbersome to wear."We have been researching this for years and we found that the safety helmets that are on sale are grossly inadequate," explained Peter when he talked to the Westmeath Examiner this week.Peter garnered the help of Dr. Adrian McGoldrick, the Chief Medical Officer for Irish Horse Racing, and once again travelled to Brussels last week to restate his case."It is extremely important for professional riders to have sufficient protection around their heads because jockeys like Ruby Walsh are on the cutting edge of risk every time they race," said Peter."From a jockey's point of view, once they get a fall, they are concussed and can be stood down for anything from three days to three weeks.But concussion can be accumulative, just like what used to happen to boxers: if you don't retire from the sport on time, you are left with long-term damage, which can cause all sorts of problems," explained Peter. "What we're trying to do is to get a helmet that can reduce concussion but one that is still wearable and comfortable."We've been trying to get manufacturers to use more modern materials, but as there are no laws to make them produce these helmets, they simply don't."Speaking from Brussels last week, Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness, who has supported Mr Downes' case through the European Parliament Petitions Committee, said it was "simply not good enough" for manufacturers to claim that there is no market demand for high performance helmets:"I believe that as a matter of urgency, the Commission must press for higher safety standards in equestrian helmets. It is simply not good enough to say that there does not seem to be a market demand for 'high performance' helmets," said McGuinness."Riders believe that their helmets are fit for purpose. We know that this is not the case and a safer helmet can and should be designed. The Commission must see that higher safety standards are implemented without delay" she said.Peter said last week's visit to Brussels proved more positive compared to the last time he was there:"I was very pleased with the reaction this time around. The one encouraging thing about the whole trip was that the European Commission admitted that the helmet wasn't good enough and the petition still stays open," said Paddy.The issue is due to arise again in June, when Paddy hopes his request for a mandate on safer riding helmets will be implemented."I think we've got enough interest this time around to keep this petition alive," says Paddy, "Ireland have a lot of people employed in the racing industry, so it's only right that we are to the forefront of development in all aspects of the sport."The European Commission will now seek to withdraw the 2005 standards and re-examine how to improve the level of protection using current technology.