Micheál Martin has defended taking part in an event at a Cork boxing club last December when public health restrictions prohibited indoor gatherings.
The Taoiseach s spokesman said that the event at Blackpool s Glen Boxing Club last December 12 was work, and not a personal event .
Mr Martin presented the Paddy Martin Cup, named after his father, who was a champion boxer, to Irish international boxer and garda Christina Desmond at the event, which was attended by at least 12 people.
The State was in Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions at the time, meaning indoor gatherings were prohibited. Gardaí said they are not investigating the event.
Taoiseach s attendance at Cork boxing club event during indoor gatherings ban was not personal
Reports resurfaced yesterday about Micheál Martin’s attendance at the event. By Stephen McDermott Sunday 4 Apr 2021, 9:49 AM Apr 4th 2021, 9:49 AM 129,065 Views 134 Comments
Image: Julien Behal Photography
Image: Julien Behal Photography
THE TAOISEACH HAS insisted that his attendance at an event at a Cork boxing club before Christmas, when a ban on indoor gatherings was in place, was for “work” reasons.
Reports emerged yesterday that Micheál Martin attended the event at Glen Boxing Club in Blackpool on 12 December last to present a trophy named after his father.
'No inquiry' into Taoiseach Micheal Martin's presence at Cork boxing event sundayworld.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sundayworld.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Mick O’Brien, chair of the Cork County Boxing Board, defended the event. “The invitation was given, permission was given for the event to go ahead,” he said. “As far as I know, the permission was granted to the Cork Ex-Boxers Association and a date was given through the Taoiseach’s office and conveyed through Micheál Martin’s constituency office in Cork.”
Mr O’Brien said they were asked to provide the names of people attending the function, their contact numbers, their role within the association. He said on the day masks were available for everybody and social distancing was adhered to during the 45-minute event.