Boxer’s offer in bid to fight at Games
A CHAMPION boxer is willing to live apart from other athletes in a bid to be reinstated to Northern Ireland’s Commonwealth Games team, the High Court has heard.
Conor Wallace’s barrister indicated that the boxer would make separate accommodation arrangements if it meant being able to compete in Australia next month.
Ronan Lavery QC said: “The boxers have already gone to Brisbane and at the minute he is missing sparring events and training events.
“He’s already indicated that he’s prepared to stay off the village.”
The Newry fighter has started legal action over his deselection by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council.
He is seeking an order revers-
Boxer Conor Wallace (right) trained with UFC superstar Conor McGregor
ing the decision taken earlier this month to drop him from the team heading to the Gold Coast.
At the time, police said they were investigating a complaint A MUM-of-three whose husband died from a sudden asthma attack believes his life might have been saved if he had been given basic care.
Stephen Leyland was just 33 when he collapsed suddenly at his home in Holywood, Co Down, last November.
His wife Laura tried desperately to save his life by giving CPR, but he tragically passed away.
Laura (33), a teacher who is mother to a two-year-old son Harry and nine-month-old twins Brody and Penny, is now campaigning for healthcare professionals to ensure they give asthma patients basic care.
She said: “I still can’t believe that an asthma attack snatched away my wonderful husband and it has left me and the children devastated.
“Harry was almost two when he watched me fight to save his daddy’s life. No child should have to go through that.
“Stephen had had asthma since childhood but it wasn’t something either of us thought of as severe.
against a 21-year-old from the Newry area.
Mr Wallace denies any wrongdoing and has not been arrested or questioned.
“There had been no big warning signs that this could happen.
“His asthma attack was a bolt from the blue that completely shattered our lives. That’s why regular asthma reviews are so important and why I’m pushing for them.”
Three people die from asthma every day in the
UK and experts believe the majority of these deaths could have been prevented.
Today, a survey by the charity Asthma UK reveals that more than half of asthma sufferers don’t have a written asthma action plan.
This should include all the information that someone with asthma needs to look after their condition, including what medicine they should take and what to do if they have an attack.
Medical guidelines stipulate that everyone with asthma should have a
An Ulster light-heavyweight amateur champion, he gained further recognition after working with UFC superstar Conor McGregor at a 2016 training camp in America.
Injunction proceedings issued against the Council and the Irish Athletic Boxing Association were originally put on hold amid attempts to mediate a resolution.
But in court yesterday, uncertainty was expressed over the type of process and whether any outcome would be binding.
Mr Lavery expressed doubts about another potential option of going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport — an international body which sits in Lausanne, plan as well as getting a yearly asthma review and an inhaler check.
But today’s survey of more than 7,500 people with asthma in the UK found 56% — equivalent to around three million sufferers — didn’t have such a plan.
Laura said her husband’s death must not be in vain.
“If our story makes someone do something different and get an asthma action plan that could save their life, that would be a huge comfort to me,” she added.
“I need to make sure Stephen’s death wasn’t for nothing.”
Dr Andy Whittamore from Asthma UK commented: “Tragically, three people die from an asthma attack every day, leaving families devastated.
“But two-thirds of these deaths could have been prevented with basic asthma care, such as a written asthma Switzerland, as well as New York and Sydney.
Arguing that a determination should instead be made by the High Court, he told Mr Justice Maguire: “There’s no indication of what exactly the issues are.
“It hasn’t been canvassed in correspondence what the real difficulties are, and in those circumstances there’s no alternative but we have to ask the court for an urgent remedy.”
However, a barrister for the NI Commonwealth Games Council insisted that Mr Wallace signed a contractual agreement which should now be examined in a different forum.
“He entered into it with his eyes open,” counsel said.
“This court shouldn’t be asked to referee what is a matter for resolution by arbitration.”
Adjourning the case again, the judge pointed out that any failure to arbitrate in the meantime may be noted.
❝ The boxers have gone to Brisbane and at the minute he is missing sparring and training
Stephen and Laura Leyland with son Harry. Below: Stephen with Harry
and his twins Brody and Penny
action plan. It’s therefore deeply troubling that almost three million people in the UK are not getting a written asthma action plan.
“Many GPs only get a few minutes every year with their asthma patients.
“Because asthma is such a variable and unpredictable condition it is crucial that patients know what to do for the rest of the year.
“A written asthma action plan is such a simple way to help people with the condition know that they are doing the right things to stay well, but more importantly what to do when their asthma starts to cause problems and how to prevent and treat life-threatening asthma attacks.”
Dr Whittamore urged everyone with asthma to discuss and write up an asthma action plan with their GP or asthma nurse, saying it could save their life.
“We’d encourage people to take a photo of their plan on their phone so they have it everywhere they go, and share it with friends so they know how to help you if you have an attack,” he added.