Nevin wife and cousin carried out illegal Olympics collection

The wife of Olympic boxer John Joe Nevin and his cousin will not be convicted for carrying out an an illegal collection to raise money to send the Nevin family to the Olympics.

Mullingar District Court heard the two women had “jumped the gun” by carrying out the collection when the permit had not been granted.

They had €61 in cash and a sponsorship card pledging €195.20 at Newtown Lawns, Mullingar, on April 20st.

Solicitor Robert Marren said the boxer’s wife, Marie Nevin, Ardleigh Vale, Mullingar, and cousin Mary Nevin, Grange Meadows, did not know there was no permit.

After the evidence, Judge Hughes said he would leave the two women without a conviction, but asked that they bring €250 cash to court by March 21st.

He said he would donate that money to the boxing club, and pointed out that the entire country was proud of Nevin and what he and his boxing colleagues had achieved.

The court heard evidence from secretary Brian McKeown, one of the founders of Cavan Amateur Boxing Club, whose banner was on the sponsorship cards. He later praised the way the judge had dealt with the case.