No prosecution over Dublin death of MMA fighter
THE DPP has directed no prosecution in relation to the death of a mixed martial arts fighter who died after a fight in Dublin.
Joao Carvalho, 28, died due to blunt-force trauma to the head, after he was knocked out during a Total Extreme Fighting contest at the National Boxing Stadium last April.
A post-mortem revealed Mr Carvalho suffered an acute subdural haemorrhage following the fight and died at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital two days later on April 11, 2016.
An inquest into the Portuguese fighter’s death – which had opened last December at Dublin Coroner’s Court, before being adjourned – yesterday heard that no criminal charges will be brought in relation to the incident.
‘We submitted a file to the DPP for consideration and the DPP directed no prosecution in this case,’ Detective Inspector Paul Cleary of Kevin Street Garda Station told the court.
Detective Inspector Cleary applied to the court for a hearing date for the full inquest. A number of witnesses, including members of Mr Carvalho’s family, are expected to travel to Dublin for the inquest.
‘We have family members in the UK and in Portugal and we will arrange with them now that we have a hearing date for the inquest,’ Detective Inspector Cleary said. ‘I know his brother who is based in the UK will want to be here.’
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane adjourned the inquest for full hearing this September.
Mr Carvalho reportedly began to feel unwell around 20 minutes after a technical knockout in the third round of his fight against Irish MMA fighter Charlie Ward on April 9, 2016.
The welterweight fighter was assessed by doctors and medical staff at the TEF onsite medical office as per normal procedure.
It was determined that he should be sent to hospital. Mr Carvalho was sent to Beaumont, but died two days after he was admitted. He was pronounced dead at around 10pm on April 11, 2016, and his brother Alexandre Carvalho identified his body.
State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy conducted a post-mortem examination and gave the cause of death as acute subdural haemorrhage due to blunt-force trauma to the head.
The MMA fighter’s sudden death became the subject of two investigations, one carried out and completed by the gardaí, and a separate inquiry by the Health and Safety Authority. Details of the HSA report are likely to be heard at the full inquest.