Boxer abandons High Court bid to win back Commonwealth place

A CHAMPION boxer has said he is “gutted” after ending his High Court bid to be reinstated to Northern Ireland’s Commonwealth Games team.

Conor Wallace’s lawyers said he faced an “insurmountable” hurdle because the deadline for registration had passed.

It was also claimed he had been dropped after somebody “buckled under pressure from vigilante groups” — an assertion rejected by the sporting body who selected the team.

Outside court the Newry fighter spoke of his devastation at being unable to compete in Australia next month.

“I’m gutted, but I wouldn’t want this to disrupt the other athletes,” he said.

Despite withdrawing injunction proceedings, Mr Wallace’s lawyers confirmed he would be pursuing a claim for damages over the alleged unlawfulness of his de-selection.

He originally went to court seeking an order reversing the Northern Ireland Common- Conor Wallace (right) at a training camp with UFC star Conor McGregor

wealth Games Council’s (NICGC) decision to drop him from the team heading to the Gold Coast.

At the time police said they were investigating a complaint against a 21-year-old from the Newry area. Mr Wallace denies any wrongdoing and has not been arrested or questioned.

The case brought against the council was originally put on hold amid attempts to mediate a resolution, but those attempts ended after the London-based Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed its rules do not allow late entry for athletes after the registration deadline.

The court heard Mr Wallace was originally notified of his place on the team in January.

Later that month, however, theUlsterchampionwassubjected to publicity after being confronted by a “self-styled vigilante group”, and in February his boxing association allegedly issued a “stand down order” prohibiting any activities involving minors.

His lawyer claimed the NICGC then advised Mr Wallace in early March to withdraw from participation, but he “made it clear he had no intention to do so”.

The NICGC’s barrister said it “strongly objected to any suggestion that any decision-making on its part was at all motivated by the actions of some third-party vigilante paedophile hunters”.

He insisted that its actions were based on child protection issues and the ongoing police probe.

As he closed the injunction application, Mr Justice Maguire told the parties: “I’m not getting into a situation where the court is being used as a place to ventilate press releases.”