By Terence Dooley

The Irish News has reported that the controversy over the public money that was funnelled into Carl Frampton’s September 2014 IBF Super bantamweight world title fight against Kiko Martinez has still not reached a resolution despite the disclosure of the necessary documents.

 Brendan Hughes today reported that Stormont (the site of the main government buildings) has only recently responded to a Freedom of Information request.  It was placed a year ago and should have been actioned sooner due to claims that £300,000+ of public money was used for the major sporting show at Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.

 Former First Minister Peter Robinson’s son helped put the event together; however, a declaration of interest was not made and the FoI request was not completed within the 20 working days time span, a legal requirement.

The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) told the Irish News that the delay was due to the fact the document contained the “personal data of third parties” and this is why the one that was eventually sent out was redacted in some places.  Despite this, the publication have tenaciously pursued the issue and received strong verbal support from SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone.

“The one-year delay in responding to a Freedom of Information request by the first and deputy first ministers is shocking but sadly not surprising from a department that responds to criticism by drawing down a veil of secrecy or sticking their fingers in their ears,” was McGlone’s response to the story.

“A significant amount of public money was spent on the hosting of the Frampton fight.  And while it was undoubtedly a success for the city of Belfast, it drew significant profit for private companies while no return was made to taxpayers.  With the appointment of a new first minister (Arlene Foster), the office now has a chance to display a new spirit of transparency and openness.”

After securing the public funding, McGuigan released a press statement in which Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were thanked for helping with the event.  

 The event prompted a storm over the use of public money and discounts, but it also brought a spotlight to the new venue and was a huge night for Irish sport.  However, the delay in sending through the requested document has made a the officials look bad and is inexcusable in the information age.

 Frampton, though, is not to blame, nor is McGuigan, and the fight itself earned him the IBF belt.  “The Jackal” meets Scott Quigg in Manchester next month in a huge domestic showdown that should help bring the winner closer to a shot against Guillermo Rigondeaux, the division’s consensus number one.

By the time this titanic storm has wound down, the Belfast-based boxer could be a step closer or further from a dream showdown with the gifted Cuban Champion. 

Follow this link to see The Irish News’s “fight funding” timeline: http://www.irishnews.com/news/2016/01/26/news/carl-frampton-fight-funding-controversy-a-timeline-395124/.

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