Two Northern Irish boxing bodies have come out to publicly deny they discriminated against a Protestant boxer and said neither organisation “accepts any valid assertion” he was “discriminated against on the grounds of his religion or cultural background”.
The joint statement by the Ulster Boxing Council (UBC) and Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) was released on Friday.
It comes nearly a week after the Belfast Telegraph reported on a court case brought against the UBC by Daryl Clarke (27).
The two organisations also noted that they had been “hopeful that in reaching a mutually agreed position, that it would assist in salvaging the relationship between the parties” involved.
Mr Clarke took legal proceedings through court months ago, alleging that he was not selected to represent Northern Ireland at the last Commonwealth Games because he is a Protestant.
At the end of August, the case was settled for a five-figure sum, with the UBC agreeing to pay Mr Clarke “without admission of liability”.
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Both the IABA and UBC said on Friday that they “wish to make the following clear; the dispute between Mr Clarke and the UBC was mutually discontinued and any settlement was made without admission of fault on either side”.
“Neither the IABA or UBC accept as valid any assertion that Mr. Clarke was discriminated against because of his religion or cultural background. Both were fully prepared to defend the claim brought by Mr Clarke in court. But the parties came together to resolve the perceived issues between them on a mutual basis.”
The IABA and UBC agreed to enter mediation, on the basis that “it was a confidential process [and] would undoubtedly save time and cost for all parties involved”.
They said they were hopeful that in reaching a mutually agreed position that it would assist in salvaging the relationship between the parties.
As part of the agreed terms of settlement with Mr Clark, the IABA and UBC also noted that a “mutually agreed press statement” had been constructed, which notes that the two bodies “have agreed to liaise with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, which will conduct a comprehensive equality review of the governance practices and procedures applicable to the Ulster Boxing Council, to ensure compliance with Fair Employment legislation, and relevant codes of practice.”
Mr Clarke said he believed he had done “more than enough” to secure a place within Team NI for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
In 2020, he won the light-welterweight final in the Ulster Elite Championships, with his performance earning him ‘Boxer of the Tournament’.
However, he recently retired from the sport due to the toll he says it took on his mental health, after finding out he would not be picked to represent his country.
He believed it is because of his religious and cultural background, and where he is from, after certain selection processes were changed in the lead-up to the competition.
Daryl Clarke
In the final terms of the court settlement, seen by the Belfast Telegraph, Ulster Boxing Council “acknowledges that the Plaintiff was hurt by reason of the fact that he was not selected for the Northern Ireland Boxing Team to attend the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham”.
The Ulster Boxing Council also “agrees that within 16 weeks of the date of this agreement it shall liaise with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland which shall conduct a comprehensive Equality Review of the governance, practices and procedures applicable to the Ulster Boxing Council to ensure that they are compliant with the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 and any relevant Codes of Practice.
“Ulster Boxing Council undertakes to cooperate with the said review and to implement the recommendations of the said review within three months of the publication of the outcome of this review or such further time as is required and agreed with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.”
Again in Friday’s statement, the two sporting bodies said that: “Such a commitment was a restatement of the IABA and UBC’s existent (and continuing) commitment to equality and equality of opportunity within the sport of boxing on the island of Ireland.
“Positive and constructive meetings were ongoing, and are ongoing, between IABA and UBC representatives and the Equality Commission.”
During the week, DUP MLA Phillip Brett tabled Assembly questions to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, asking whether he will instruct Sport NI to suspend and review funding to the Ulster Boxing Council and the Irish Athletic Boxing Association as a result of the case.