Coroner returns open verdict at Sutherland death inquest

A coroner has returned an open verdict into the inquest into the death of Irish boxer Darren Sutherland today, confirmed the cause of death as hanging.

Dr Roy Palmer said sufficient doubt in his mind meant he would not be returning a verdict of suicide.

The inquest heard Sutherland was an intelligent, friendly man who was focused on his career and wanted to be a professional boxer, but who always wanted reassurance.

Dr Palmer added: "But what about Darren? These are some of the words I have heard over the past four days: happy, always smiling, a gentleman, nice guy, personable, perfectionist, determined, talented, he lit up a room."

Dr Palmer added that Sutherland was also introverted and a closed individual who did not have many friends in the UK.

He said: "He was anxious. He always tried to be the best and do the best he could. He had a fear of failure and, as somebody said, he was too sensitive and too intelligent to be a boxer."

He said a cut on Sutherland's face had been slow to heal which had clearly caused him distress.

He had been unable to spar because of it, his confidence had dwindled and he was worried about his next fight, he told the court.

He said: "To his family, he was a dear son of whom you can be immensely proud."

Dr Palmer said he would also be writing to the British Board of Boxing Control to make recommendations so that a tragedy of this kind could be averted in the future.

Boxing promoter Frank Maloney earlier told the inquest that he had no idea why one of his fighters would have been frightened of him.

Maloney broke down in tears as he told the court he had been painted as a monster during the hearing into the death of Olympic bronze medallist boxer Darren Sutherland at Croydon Coroner's Court.

Sutherland, 27, was found hanged at his home in Bromley, Kent, on September 14 2009 by Maloney, who had become concerned for his welfare when he failed to answer his phone.

The Irishman, who turned professional after winning bronze at the 2008 Beijing games, had been in turmoil over what would happen to him if he was to give up boxing, the court was told.

Maloney told the court he received a phone call while he was on holiday in Portugal from Joe Dunbar, Sutherland's physiologist, who said he was concerned about the boxer.

Maloney later received a call from Sutherland's trainer, Bryan Lawrence, who told him the boxer had been at the gym and told him he did not want to box any more.

The promoter, who has managed Nigel Benn, Lennox Lewis and Chris Eubank, arranged a one-to-one meeting with his protege the week before he died, the court was told.

Maloney said Sutherland told him he had lost his confidence and did not know if he could continue boxing.

He said: "I listened to him a lot. We were chatting and I said 'Darren, you have to make this decision, it's up to you'."

Maloney said Sutherland asked him what the possibilities were if he gave up boxing and he told him to take time out and get some counselling.

The court was told Sutherland was worried about becoming poor and losing his flat and his car if he was to give up boxing.

The inquest was told Sutherland's friend and adviser, Declan Brennan, had told Maloney the boxer felt like he was being pressured into boxing, and that if he did not box would have no money.

Maloney said he had told Sutherland he would not let him walk away with the £75,000 contract he had signed but that he could keep the purses for the fights which has already taken place.

He said: "He said he would be poor. I said that was his problem."

Dr Palmer asked Maloney whether there was any reason why Sutherland would be frightened of him, to which Maloney replied no.

He asked whether Maloney had seen any notes at Sutherland's flat claiming the promoter would destroy him and his family for the rest of his life.

Maloney said: "Why would I say something like that. I am a professional sports manager. I have my own reputation to think about."

Michael Topolski QC, representing the Sutherland family, said: "You told us Darren had nothing to be frightened of."

He added: "You told the police and this coroners' court that Darren said he was frightened to talk to you and he felt trapped.

Maloney replied: "If he said that Sir, he said that."

Topolski said Maloney had told Sutherland his contract could be negotiated but that he would do his utmost to make sure he did not box for anyone else.

He also asked Maloney whether he had any regrets over the way he had handled Sutherland, but Maloney said no.

Following the inquest, Sutherland's family said they had felt duty-bound to investigate the circumstances of their son's death.

Solicitor James Evans, reading a statement on their behalf, said: "Darren's death was indeed tragic for the family, for Ireland and the boxing world.

"The family lost a son and a brother so full of life who has been described by witnesses this week as a gentleman, well-mannered, intelligent and sensitive.

"He was an ambassador for good for Ireland, an Olympian and a young man whose future would have been, as Darren said himself, 'so bright'."

Evans said the family hoped that all young sportsmen and women who make the transition from amateur to professional status surrounded themselves with people they could trust and rely on, particularly during this Olympic year.

He said Sutherland's parents, Tony and Lynda, and his sisters, Nicole and Shaneika, would do everything they could to remember how he lived and not how he died.

He added: "If anything is to be learned from the tragedy of Darren's death, it should be that the support mechanisms that exist for amateur boxers should also be there for them when they begin their lonely path on the journey to professional life; the transition is difficult."