FANATIC’S MAC LIFE Gardai closing in on boxing attack thugs
MACHETE GANG STRUCK AT YOUTH TOURNAMENT
CADBURY’S first shop has been recreated using more than 600 bars of Dairy Milk to mark the company’s 200th anniversary.
In 1824, John Cadbury opened the first Cadbury shop at 93 Bull Street in Birmingham, complete with plate glass windows with mahogany frames.
This feature and a front door similar to the original have been replicated by chocolatiers Donna Oluban and Dawn Jenks from Cadbury World in Bournville, Birmingham.
They took five days to craft every element of the creation, which is 85cm tall and weighs 30kg - the equivalent of 667 Cadbury Dairy Milk bars.
Other components include 43 individually wrapped miniature versions of the original Dairy Milk bars in the window.
GARDAI are closing in on the thugs who lashed out with machetes during a violent attack at a national underage boxing tournament.
The terrifying scenes were witnessed outside a boxing club in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, as it hosted the National Boy 4 Boxing Championships on Friday night.
Gardai are investigating the incident which has left one man in his 40s in Galway University Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Sources say the attackers targeted the boxing event to settle a dispute with somebody in attendance.
It is believed the gang may have travelled up from Co Clare intent on causing mayhem at the event.
Video of the U14 Championship, which was live-streamed online, captured the moment the gang stormed the venue at about 9.45pm.
The footage shows the armed men bursting into the building as spectators fled in terror.
Former boxing world champion Carl Frampton hit out online over the horror.
“Disgusting scenes at the All Ireland under 14s last night,” he posted on X.
Bouts
“Jesus Christ, keep that madness away from the kids.”
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has branded the incident at Castlerea Boxing Club as “abhorrent” and confirmed that planned weekend bouts have been rescheduled.
‘’That such an incident could occur at a children’s sporting event is abhorrent and is roundly condemned by every member of the Irish boxing family,” the IABA said in a statement.
‘’Understandably there will be clubs, boxers, officials and supporters at a loss.
“But in the interest of their safety, there is no option, risk remains too high even if the competition proceeds behind closed doors.’’
In a post on Facebook yesterday, Castlerea Boxing Club said: “We were so proud to be asked to host this year’s All-Ireland Championships... but instead, it has brought great shock and sadness.
“We can only apologise to all of the wonderful people that attended, to the children who trained all year for this and to the people of Castlerea.”
Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have seen a White/Silver Audi A4 car travelling in the Castlerea and Ballintubber areas of Co Roscommon between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on Friday.