R.I.P.:
Darren Sutherland
By Bernard O'Neill
September 17, 2009
(SEPT 17) The President of the Irish
Amateur Boxing Association, Dominic O'Rourke has led the tributes to
former Irish Olympian Darren Sutherland. Darren, who won a bronze
medal for Ireland at the Beijing Olympics, died in his apartment in
Bromley, south London on Monday.
Dominic O'Rourke said: "On behalf of the
Irish Amateur Boxing Association I would like to express my condolences
to Darren's family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this
moment.
"Darren came up through the ranks with us. Even as a youngster you could
see that he had the talent to go places.
"He represented his country with distinction every time he stepped in
the ring and he was very proud to be capped for Ireland at all levels.
This is a tragic loss for Irish sport and we are all deeply saddened."
Darren won three Irish senior titles, two European Union gold medals and
numerous Multi Nation gold medals boxing for Ireland in the middleweight
ranks.
He also reached the last 16 at the 2005 and 2007 AIBA World Senior
Championships.
His amateur career culminated in his bronze medal win at the 2008
Olympic Games in Beijing.
Darren, Ken Egan and Paddy Barnes were the only Irish athletes to win
medals at the Beijing Olympiad.
Darren signed with London based promoter Frank Maloney after the 2008
Olympics and won his first four professional bouts.
He was 27 years old when he died.
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Additional info from WBAN:
Sutherland was found dead in his apartment where he was found hanged.
Frank Maloney, his boxing promoter is the one who discovered him and it
is reported that Maloney may have had a heart attack in regards to this
tragedy. Maloney was hospitalized. No suspicious circumstances are
reported at this time in regards to Sutherland's death.
