Irish boxing president steps aside following sexual assault allegations

The court appearance was not reported at the time and Mr O’Mahony continued in his role as president of the IABA.

The law makes provision on indictment for a term of imprisonment “not exceeding ten years”.

The case has been forwarded to the Circuit Criminal Court for trial by jury and the last mention of it was on May 27, 2024. A trial date for 2 July has now been set.

When contacted on Wednesday, the chair of the IABA Niall O’Carroll said that he had been unaware of the matter and it had not been discussed at board level.

“It’s important to point out that Gerry’s role is as a volunteer and it is an elected role but he is not a member of staff or paid in any way by the IABA, it’s purely a volunteer position as an elected member,” he told the Irish Examiner.

Later the association released a statement saying that it had only become aware of Mr O’Mahony’s involvement in legal proceedings and he “has volunteered to step aside from discharging the duties of the president of the IABA, pending the resolution of these matters.” 

The statement said these duties include all domestic and international functions. Mr O’Mahony was due to attend the Olympic Games as an ambassador for the sport next month.

“We are mindful of each person’s presumption of innocence and shall be making no further media comment on this matter which is now before the courts,” the statement concluded.

The charge alleges that Mr O’Mahony sexually assaulted a woman at The Village Inn, Strandside, Abbeyside, Dungarvan on a date unknown between January 1 2009 and December 31 2010.

Mr O’Mahony was one of two individuals named last month to attend the Olympic games “to represent the Irish boxing family” in the role of the association’s ambassadors.

These would be “the first ever IABA ambassadors in recognition of their long and vital service to boxing, and the boxing community, at home and abroad”.

Gerry O’Mahony was elected president of the IABA in July 2022 after a period of turbulence within the association.

Prior to his election to that post he had been president of the Munster branch of the association for a period of over fifteen years.

Last weekend the IABA’s final line up for the games was confirmed with four boxers winning their qualification rounds in Bangkok to bring the total representation to a record-equalling ten boxers.

Not since 1960 has the national body sent as many boxers to an Olympics finals.

Following the victories, Mr O’Mahony released a statement saying he was delighted for all the fighters involved.

“It’s a big day for Irish boxing, a big day for every club in Ireland, it gives them something to aspire to,” he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“It’s absolutely fantastic for all the kids who boxed out there and the ones who didn’t make it, it wasn’t for want of trying. They gave it their all and we’re very proud of all of them.” 

The outcomes of the qualifying success now means that Ireland will have a boxer in every category in the women’s competition and four of seven in the men’s competition.