More than £45,000 has been raised to support the family of boxer John Cooney, who is still fighting for his life after suffering a brain injury during a fight in Belfast last weekend.
The 28-year-old from Galway suffered an intracranial haemorrhage during the Celtic super featherweight fight against Welshman Nathan Howells at the Ulster Hall.
He remained in the intensive care unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital on Friday, with his condition still critical, according to last reports.
It comes as his family praised the Europa Hotel in Belfast for the support they have received from its staff.
“We had originally booked a one-night stay at the Europa Hotel as the family of pro-boxer John Cooney, who was competing in a title fight at Ulster Hall on Saturday night,” his family said.
“Tragically, due to the severe injuries John sustained in the match, he was transferred to intensive care at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital with a serious brain injury, leaving us in an unimaginable situation with no clear time frame for his recovery.
“Being from Galway, we have needed to remain in Belfast to be close to John and our family during this distressing time.
“The team at the Europa Hotel have gone above and beyond to support us, showing genuine kindness and care when we needed it most.
“Their level of service is truly five-star, and their compassion has made an incredibly difficult time a little more bearable.
“From the front desk staff to the doorman, every member of the team made us feel welcome and cared for, offering not just hospitality but real human kindness.”
Mr Cooney’s mother, Tina, in an earlier message on social media, said she will “never give up hope” on a son she loves unconditionally.
“Right now you are breaking my heart in a million pieces,” Ms Cooney said.
“But you are not ready to leave this world yet and you are now battling the hardest fight but you can do this John Cooney.”
Olympic champion Michael Carruth planned to organise a gathering on Friday of all the members of the boxing club where he coaches, to pray for Mr Cooney’s recovery.
“It’s horrible to hear. He’s in my prayers and I’m hoping that he makes a full recovery,” Mr Carruth, a gold medal winner at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, now a coach at Drimnagh Boxing Club, told the Irish Mirror.
“It’s not common to hear of a boxer suffer a brain haemorrhage during a fight so it’s shocking and I just hope that he makes a full recovery,” he said.
“I’m going to get everyone together in the boxing club tomorrow evening and we are going to say a prayer for him.”
As of Friday afternoon, just over £45,000 had been raised in a GoFundMe campaign for the family.
Controversial former mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor donated £20,000.
