PROMOTER Frank Maloney has been asked to attend the inquest into the death of Irish super middleweight Darren Sutherland, who died over two years ago. Maloney guided the professional career of the Dublin boxer after he won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics until he discovered Sutherland, then 27-years-old, hanged at his Bromley, Kent, flat in September 2009.

The inquest was requested by the boxer's parents. They firmly believe their son was murdered and reject the official cause of death, which listed suicide by hanging. Professor Crane, a criminal forensic pathologist commissioned by Sutherland’s family, raised the possibility of a third-party being involved - when he raised concerns by stating that Sutherland's wrists suggest the possibility of his hands being tied.

Sutherland lost his love for boxing and wanted to quit the sport, but he had concerns. Around the time of his death, the boxer told his father Tony that he was worried about losing his home if he didn’t fulfill his contractual obligations to his manager Frank Maloney.

A note from a friend was found in the boxer’s flat, two days after his death, which warned Darren about Maloney’s reaction if he quit the sport. The note, found by Sutherland’s dad Tony, was written by Sutherland’s friend and adviser Declan Brennan, who the boxer met while studying at Dublin City University.

The note said: "Seventy five grand plus VAT to Frank. Give the car back, give the flat back. Frank will destroy you and your family. In the media he will keep doing articles saying how you’ve ended up digging holes on building sites and he will be right because you were given a God given talent to be a world champion. You think it is bad now, you will see how bad it can get. Your pal Declan."

Darren had sustained an eye injury in training for his fifth professional fight which became infected. He told Dr. Natasha Haugh that his boxing was not going well and he had trouble sleeping. She said she had seen Darren three times - twice for his infected eye cut and once for sleeping problems.

The inquest was told he had suffered “low moods and bouts of insomnia” for six weeks leading up to his death on September 14, 2009.