Court orders Red Corner Promotions to pay damages to Irish boxer

The Circuit Civil Court has awarded damages of €17,500 and costs to Stephen Carroll after he took a case against Red Corner Promotions. 

Carroll sued On The Ropes Limited, trading as Red Corner Promotions, after the former promotional outfit posted personal information about his personal and mental health on social media in August 2017. 

This was in relation to the Ballyfermot light welter’s withdrawal from a BUI Celtic title clash with Cork’s Noely Murphy on the ‘Champions Elect’ bill at the National Stadium that October.

Murphy would subsequently defeat Gyorgy Mizsei Jr in the show’s headline fight.

Red Corner caused a stir within the game when they posted the following status on their Facebook – which was deleted soon after.

“It is reported that Stephen cannot perform his duties due to mental illness. He has refused to substantiate his claims and honour the terms of the contract.”

The outfit did issue a response following the outcry but the page itself was later deleted in 2018.

‘Shortty’ had just moved into a solid position having claimed the Celtic Nations title versus Jamesy Gorman and then defending it with a big win in Scotland over Eddie Doyle.

A keep busy win over Ferenc Jarko in May of 2017 followed and the entertaining brawler looked set to lead to some big domestic clashes but Carroll [7(1)-0] hasn’t fought since, initially announcing his retirement in October 2017.

The Dubliner would then sign with Mack The Knife Global but had no fights under this banner and re-signed with Tony Davitt last year but has been inactive.

The well-liked 26-year-old told the court that his contract allowed him pull out of fights once proof as to the reason was provided. 

Carroll explained some mental health issues prompted him to pull out of scheduled clash for October of 2017 and Red Corner went online with the personal information, claiming proof wasn’t provided.

The now inactive pro told the judge he was devastated upon seeing the post and felt the wider public would see the issues as a sign of weakness. Carroll also claimed incident and the drama surrounding it has prevented him from returning to the ring.

Carroll, who was also a talented amateur out of the St Matthew’s club, told Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke that his life and career had been deeply impacted by the social media post and he had lost his get-away as he was unable to return to the sport in any capacity.

Carroll’s barrister argued that the Facebook post was defamatory and a breach of his client’s data protection rights.

Judge Groarke heard that liability had been conceded and that the court was being asked to assess Mr Carroll’s damages and ultimately awarded the former boxer – who had sought €75,000 – a total of €17,500 plus costs.

Carroll is reported to be “very satisfied” with the outcome.

Red Corner have not been active on the Irish scene since the Ireland’s Last Man Standing competition last March – which was subject to its own controversies.

That was their fifth card following one in 2016 and three in 2017.