AN INQUEST into the death of Irish Olympic boxer Darren Sutherland, who died at his London flat on Monday, is expected before the weekend, though it will be adjourned until the results of a postmortem are known.
The super-middleweight Dublin boxer was found dead in his Bromley flat by his manager Frank Maloney on Monday afternoon, who was himself subsequently taken to hospital shortly after he became unwell.
The death of Mr Sutherland has been referred to Croydon Coroner’s Court in south London, and coroner Dr Roy Palmer will open proceedings before the weekend, though a final ruling may not take place for some time.
Meanwhile, Mr Maloney has been cared for in the Princess Royal Hospital in Bromley since his arrival on Monday. He felt well enough to leave on Tuesday, but doctors suggested that he undergo an angiogram.
During the procedure, Mr Maloney became unwell and was rushed by ambulance to King’s Hospital, where surgeons inserted a stent in his heart. He returned to the hospital on Tuesday evening, and he is likely to leave today if doctors decide to discharge him after an examination this morning.
The hospital last night pointed out that Mr Maloney had had a stressful time, involving a controversial defeat by one of his boxers on Friday night followed by the discovery of Mr Sutherland’s body on Monday.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Maloney said: “Doctors have told me that after some days of rest I will be fine, and I cannot wait to return to work in the sport of boxing as soon as possible.
“Boxing is my life. I have had plenty of highs in the sport and plenty of lows as well. But nothing will ever compare to the shock and sorrow of finding Darren in his flat on Monday night,” said the London promoter.
Neighbours and friends of Mr Sutherland’s family, who live in Balreask Manor, Navan, have offered comfort to his parents, Tony and Linda, and sisters, Nicole and Shakeira, who live on the Trim Road estate in the town.
Originally living in Mulhuddart, Mr Sutherland had returned from England, where he had trained in the Sheffield gym of trainer Brendan Ingle, to sit the Leaving Certificate in St Peter’s College in Navan, before he embarked on a professional career under Mr Maloney.