Gymnast Rhys McClenaghan hopes to be allowed defend Commonwealth title

Rhys McClenaghan is hoping to be allowed to defend his Commonwealth Games title in Birmingham in July (Jane Barlow/PA)

Stormont Community Minister Deirdre Hargey has said she is hopeful of a resolution which will allow gymnast Rhys McClenaghan to defend his title at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Ms Hargey met representatives from the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) on Wednesday following a row which erupted when the governing body said that 22-year-old McClenaghan and two Northern Ireland teammates were ineligible to compete in the Games later this year because they routinely represent Ireland in worldwide competitions.