Boxing chiefs let convicted coach carry on
Archie Durie pleaded case to board
A disgraced Rutherglen boxing coach has been allowed to continue coaching children despite being convicted of stalking and threatening his ex-wife.
Archie Durie, 55, was found guilty of tormenting his former lover over a five-month period which began in 2015.
He sent threatening and abusive texts to Laura Durie between February 1 and March 31 last year and also sat outside her flat in a car and sent messages suggesting he was watching her.
Scottish national governing body, Boxing Scotland, refused to confirm any details of Mr Durie’s investigation but the coach, who runs the Durie’s Boxing Club in the John Hillhouse Industrial Estate, said he was “happy” to be allowed to continue his role.
He said: “There were some doubts as to whether the season was going to start at all for myself, due to an unforeseen court case and conviction that almost destroyed the future of my boxing club.
“But, after an investigatory meeting with Boxing Scotland bosses where matters were discussed and mitigations put in from myself, it left the board happy enough to let me carry on coaching with no restrictions for myself or the club and to start our club’s busy start to the season.”
Mr Durie was convicted of a number of incidents that left Ms Durie in a state of fear and alarm between October 1, 2015, and March 7, 2016.
The court also found him guilty of acting in a threatening and abusive manner towards Ms Durie at Katrina’s Cafe in Rutherglen’s Ballochmill Road on July 5, last year.
He was ordered to return to court for sentencing on September 12. Mr Durie claims he has been given the green light to continue with his work after a successful Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) application to Disclosure Scotland, which all boxing clubs and coaches must complete.
The PVG membership scheme carries out criminal record checks and shares the results with individuals and organisations.
However, the overall decision on whether or not to allow a person to coach at an affiliated club lies with Boxing Scotland.
Mr Durie, who coaches children from the age of eight, has now 20 boxers on the books going in to the new campaign which starts next month.
He has already started preparation for the upcoming season, which saw him bring 51 boxers from clubs around the country to Rutherglen for a sparring session.