PSNI drops policing bill for Olympic boxer’s homecoming fight after ‘crime fears tip-off’

The threat of a gangland feud escalation led to a U-turn of a force’s charging policy for policing the professional boxing debut of a double Olympic medallist. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) dropped plans to impose fees on the event’s organisers for its operation at Paddy Barnes` ‘homecoming’ in Belfast. A heavy police presence was seen at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in November amid fears of a reported “bloody” quarrel heading north. Double Olympic bronze medallist Mr Barnes last year signed a professional contract with gym MGM Marbella, which is linked to the ‘notorious’ Kinahan family. It was reported that the PSNI was tipped off that gunmen could try to target Daniel Kinahan during the boxing event. He is believed to have been the intended target of an attack on Dublin`s Regency Hotel last February when another man was shot dead at a boxing weigh-in. In November PSNI Inspector Gavin Kirkpartick said the event`s promoters would be billed for “special policing services”. However, in response to a Freedom of Information request, the force confirmed £24,580.87 was spent on the policing operation, but organisers will not be asked to contribute to the cost. “Although the PSNI was carrying out operations in the area of the Titanic Quarter on the night of the boxing event, the organisers of the event had not requested a police presence. Therefore no costings are available and the organisers were not invoiced by PSNI,” a spokesperson said. When asked about the U-turn, Insp Kirkpatrick said his initial comment was “incorrect”. He said the PSNI originally intended to bill organisers, but it was “inappropriate” to seek costs after the policing plan changed due to “potential criminal activity outside the event”. “In line with our charging policy, no special policing services over and above core policing were provided, so in this instance it would be inappropriate to charge the event promoters for the policing operation that was subsequently deployed.” The force was seen close to the Titanic centre carrying out vehicle checks, while officers patrolled streets around the venue. The fight night was billed as a `homecoming` for the Belfast-born Barnes, who won two Olympic medals in 2008 and 2012 representing the Republic and two Commonwealth gold medals under the Northern Ireland flag in 2010 and 2014, before the 29-year-old turned professional in September last year. In 2015, the PSNI published its policy detailing how they would bill private events for operations deemed “over and above” core policing services. However, it faced criticism for leaving amateur sport and charity events open to charges but not parades which were categorised as “statutory events reflecting constitutional rights or processes”. The guidelines followed criticism of the PSNI for waiving most of its bill for boxer Carl Frampton`s world title fight in 2014, charging organisers just £5,000 out of a full cost of almost £36,000.