Ulster Unionist South Belfast MLA Michael McGimpsey has expressed his deep concern at reports that a Boxing Club in his Constituency has experienced sectarianism for a sustained period of time.
Mr McGimpsey, a former Sports Minister, said:
“Clearly this is a very worrying situation and I welcome the DCAL investigation into the complaints made by the Sandy Row Boxing Club.
Boxing is a very popular sport in Northern Ireland across all communities, and we have cheered on local fighters to Olympic, European and World success. When Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan achieved bronze at the London 2012 Olympics, the two Belfast boxers joined previous Ulster fighters such as Wayne McCullough, Barry McGuigan, Charlie Nash, Hughie Russell and Dave Boy McAuley in the hearts of Ulster Boxing fans.
There is no question that many – if not all - boxing clubs in Northern Ireland require a great deal of investment in order to upgrade facilities, but the Department cannot release £3.1 million of promised funding if there is any doubt that there is a sectarian problem in the sport locally.
I therefore welcome the commitment from DCAL that the Minister has tasked officials to take the matter forward as part of the development of a boxing strategy and that this includes promoting inclusivity and addressing any issues of inequality.
It is absolutely essential that boxing in Northern Ireland s remains a sport that all sides of the community can participate in and enjoy without any hint of a sectarianism.“
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