Boxer in court challenge to IABA panel decision

A talented young boxer has brought a High Court challenge against the decision to drop him from the Irish youths boxing team due to take part in a forthcoming international event.

Today at the High Court Michael O'Reilly secured permission to bring proceedings aimed at securing an injunction preventing the Irish Amateur Boxing Association from deselecting him from the Irish team due to take part in the European Youth Championships later this month.

Permission to bring the proceedings was granted by Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne who made the matter returnable before the Court on tomorrow morning.

In an ex-parte (one side only) application to the court lawyers for the boxer, who boxes for the Portlaoise Club in Co Laois, said that earlier this month the boxer had been taking part at a training camp in the National Stadium.

On August 5 last a vehicle belonging to Mr O'Reilly was damaged in an underground car park.

Mr O'Reilly wanted to have his vehicle repaired, and he claims he rang a coach to see if he could be excused from the camp and go and have the works carried out. Mr O'Reilly, who has won underage national titles and has previously represented Ireland at international youth events, claims he was told by a coach that it this was ok.

However he claims that arising out of his non-attendance at training he was deselected from the Irish team. The court also heard that in correspondence with the IABA the association has disputed Mr O'Reilly's account of what happened that day.

In his action the boxer claims he was not afforded natural justice by the IABA because he was deselected before the IABA commenced its own disciplinary procedures.