UK Police told Darren Sutherland ‘feared family disowned him’

DARREN Sutherland rang his trainer just hours before he hung himself to say that he felt he had been abanoned by his family, British police have been told.

Trainer Bryan Lawrence says the Olympic bronze medallist had had a row with his mother Linda a few days earlier.

 The 27-year-old also had a long conversation with his father, Tony, the day before his body was found by manager Frank Maloney.

Just days previously, Darren – who is now believed to have died in his Bromley flat late on Sunday, September 13 – had decided to tell his parents and the team around him that he wanted to quit boxing.

It was a decision he had anguished over for months, and came after a June 30 fight in which he sustained a cut below his eye that eventually became infected and had prevented him from fighting or sparring for weeks.

Darren’s decision to quit was made in around August while he was seeking specialist treatment for a renewed eye ailment.

Three years ago Darren was convinced his career was over after suffering an eye injury.

He was fighting for Ireland against a Russian B team at the National Stadium in Dublin when his opponent caught him in the left eyeball, fracturing the socket in two places.

He was so conscious of looking cross-eyed, though, that he refused to leave home. However, he was given the all-clear after six months to fight again.

He was All-Ireland champion three years in a row before making it to Beijing.

Darren’s father Tony went on the Late Late Show last Friday week and made an emotional first TV interview about his son’s death.

In it he hinted at legal action against Maloney, who he attacked for not having told him about his son’s death before Gardai arrived at his door in Navan and broke the news to him four hours after he found the body.

Maloney has since apologised but explained that he was told by police NOT to call the family to tell them about their son and to leave it to local gardai instead.

Last night trainer Bryan Lawrence said: ‘I called Darren on Sunday to clarify details about meetings he was due to have the next day and Tuesday.

‘But almost immediately, he started telling me he thought his life was over, that he was finished and that his family had disowned him, and didn’t want to know him anymore.

‘He kept repeating that his family had abandoned him and that they didn’t want to know him.

‘I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and when he said he had had a row with his family, I said it wasn’t the end of the world, and that it was just a row.

‘I think I could have been one of the last people to speak to him.’ He added: ‘It was so strange. He was 27, living in London, and he had everything going for himself.

‘But he was really, really upset, and kept on saying his family didn’t want to know him anymore.

‘I thought the words he came out with were very strange and I did my best to calm him down and by the time the call ended, he had calmed down. He seemed fine.

‘Lawrence is now wracked with guilt over the phone call because he feels he should have done more about it.

He said last night: ‘I should have called Frank. ‘When he said his life was over, he was upset but I just didn’t think for a second he would kill himself.’

What also emerged last night was the emotional rollercoaster Darren was riding in the weeks – and particular the last seven days – leading to his death.

On the previous Monday, he surprised everybody in his gym by turning up to training with mother Linda, who had flown over from Ireland unexpectedly.

That day, Darren confided in Lawrence he wanted to quit boxing. He said he was concerned about the cut below his left eye and he was also concerned that he hadn’t had a fight or been sparring for some time.

This, Lawrence reminded him, was because of the cut, which he had sustained in a fight on June 30.

As a consequence he had missed one scheduled fight, and a following bout had had to be postponed because of health concerns over another boxer.

Lawrence said: ‘He also told me he didn’t want to box and that he had lost his confidence.’

While her son was out of earshot at one point on the Monday, Mrs Sutherland is said to have told Lawrence that she thought Darren needed to see a sports psychologist.

And – he says – she also admitted that Darren had been to see a sports psychiatrist when he was in China for the Olympics.

This information has also been passed onto a detective attached to Bromley Police station’s robbery squad who has been tasked with providing the Coroner’s Court with information about the last days and weeks of Darren’s life.

Lawrence said: ‘She seemed very definite and said that Darren should have a sports psychiatrist because he had had one in China.

‘I was a bit surprised when I heard her say that he had had a psychiatrist with him at the Olympics.

‘You don’t need one of those unless you’ve got a problem.

‘So, I got straight on the phone and rang Frank, and told him: “We have got a problem”.

‘His mother must have known he was having problems because she came over very suddenly.’

He added: ‘After I told Frank, he asked Darren to call him. And they had a long meeting.

‘I got a text from him afterwards saying ‘Bryan, I’m all chilled out. I’ve had a two-hour meeting with Frank. Everything is fine. I’ll see you tomorrow for training”.’

But the boxer didn’t show up. Instead, he sent Lawrence the following text: “My head is not right. I’m not coming into the gym”.

The next time Lawrence saw Darren was Thursday, and again the troubled boxer spoke about his lack of confidence and how much he wanted to give up boxing.

Later that day, another meeting was held with Darren and Maloney.

Lawrence said last night: ‘I think the rhetoric against myself and Frank from the father is wrong.

‘We did our best for Darren and we do not deserve to be blamed the way we are being.’

And he added: ‘I would like to have gone to his funeral and the tickets had even been booked but I didn’t want anything to detract from the service, and I was worried something might kick off.

‘I had only known him since last November, so whatever bond I felt I had was nothing compared to that of his parents.’

Of his statement to the police he said: ‘It was quite harrowing and took more than two hours.

‘I was asked to specifically explain what Darren was like in the weeks before he died.

‘I told them about the last call. They seemed to know about it.’

He added: ‘When it was all over, I broke down and cried.’

The inquest into Darren’s tragic death is due to resume in about two months.

Part of the enquiries have involved studying phone records – giving times Darren either received or made calls on Sunday, and how long those calls lasted.

Although no foul play is suspected, and it is not being treated as a suspicious death, there is an obligation by the Coroner’s Court to examine details about Darren’s private life that will become public when the inquest resumes.

If his family wish to challenge any information at the inquest, they have the right to be represented by a barrister.

It is not known if that is what they intend to do. However, given the level of acrimony between the two sides, it is likely.

Last night the family refused to comment on Mr Lawrence’s statement to UK police.