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Boxer's Death Spurs Inquest Over Fight Safety
26 Mar
Summary
- An inquest is underway following the death of boxer John Cooney.
- Concerns are raised about safety practices in professional boxing.
- The inquest will examine safety regulations and the right to life.
A preliminary hearing has taken place for an inquest into the death of Irish boxer John Cooney, 28, from Galway. Mr. Cooney passed away in February 2026, a week after sustaining an intracranial haemorrhage, or brain bleed, during a fight at Belfast's Ulster Hall.
His family, represented by KRW Law, has voiced significant concerns about the safety practices within professional boxing. They are urging the inquest to scrutinize the sport's safety regulations and examine whether they align with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which pertains to the right to life.
The British Boxing Board of Control and the fight's referee are expected to be key interested parties in the inquest. Further preparations, including requests for disclosures from various bodies and footage of the fight, were discussed during the hearing.
