Olympic bronze medallist boxer Darren Sutherland was found hanged after losing confidence in his ability following becoming a professional fighter, an inquest heard on Monday.
The 27-year-old Irish sportsman had confided in his father Tony he was worried about losing his home if he didn’t fulfill his contractual obligations with his manager Frank Maloney.
A note from a friend was found in the boxer’s flat, two days after his death, which warned Darren about Maloney’s reaction if he quit the sport.
The note, found by Darren’s dad Tony, was written by Darren’s friend and adviser Declan Brennan who he had met while studying at Dublin City University.
The note said: 'Seventy five grand plus VAT to Frank. Give the car back, give the flat back. Frank will destroy you and your family. In the media he will keep doing articles saying how you’ve ended up digging holes on building sites and he will be right because you were given a God given talent to be a world champion.
'You think it is bad now, you will see how bad it can get.
Darren had sustained an eye injury in training for his fifth professional fight which became infected.
He told GP Dr Natasha Haugh that his boxing was not going well and he had trouble sleeping.
She said she had seen Darren three times - twice for his infected eye cut and once for sleeping problems.
The inquest was told he had suffered “low moods and bouts of insomnia” for six weeks leading up to his death on September 14, 2009.
Darren, known in the ring as ‘The Dazzler’, had also confided in his father Tony that he did not want to box anymore.
But realising his contractual obligations to Frank Maloney, his manager, Darren told his dad: 'I damned if I do because I will lose and I damned if I don’t because I will owe Frank the money.'
After becoming increasingly disillusioned Darren was found hanged at his flat.
The inquest was told Darren’s manager Frank Maloney found his body.
Paramedic Lindsay Grant said he went to the address in response to an emergency call and found the body.
He said there was no sign of life and nothing that could be done to save him.
Pathologist Andrew Coomb, who conducted the post mortem, said he died from asphyxiation.
The family later had Darren’s body exhumed from a grave in Navan, County Meath in Ireland, after they asked for a second post mortem to be carried out.
Professor Crane, a criminal forensic pathologist commissioned by Darren’s family, raised concerns about the boxer’s wrists, suggesting the possibility of a third-party involvement.
He said toxicology tests from the first autopsy - which said Darren’s body had no trace of drugs or alcohol in his system - were “meaningless”.
Darren’s father Tony had a statement read to the inquest. He was present but did not give evidence.
He said his son was “fit, focussed and the life and soul of the party.”
He said: 'Darren had never suffered from a mental illness in his life. If he had we would have made sure he got proper medical attention.'
The inquest continues on Tuesday.
