The Irish Athletic Boxing Association has defended the sport after a man was killed at a boxing club in Wicklow.
Katie Taylor’s father Pete and another man who were left seriously injured in the shooting are still being treated in hospital.
While Gardaí have yet to find a motive for the attack – it’s believed it may be linked to a local feud. The attack in Bray is the third shooting incident associated with the world of boxing.
In 2016 a shooting at a weigh-in at the Regency Hotel left one man dead – while last January, two people were shot and injured outside the National Stadium.
National Secretary of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, Art O’Brien says he’s horrified at yesterdays attack – and has dismissed any link between the industry and criminality:
“Let’s take the Regency, there is no connection here in any shape or form to amateur boxing, it was totally to do with professional boxing.
“In relation to the shooting outside the National Stadium, it took place outside the National Stadium, it had nothing at all to do with boxing or what was going on in the stadium.”
Meanwhile tributes are being paid to Grandfather and father-of-three, Bobby Messett, who was shot dead in Bray.
Gardaí believe the 50-year-old was an innocent bystander – who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. His lifelong friend Colm Mulligan reflected upon his popularity:
“Bobby was an innocent victim in the shooting this morning at Bray Boxing Club and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Words here cannot convey how heartbroken everyone of us is at The Glens to lose one the most dedicated clubmen anyone could have.”
