Nevins told to pay €250 to Cavan Boxing Club

The wife and cousin of Olympic boxer John Joe Nevin have been ordered to make a payment of €250 to Cavan Boxing Club after being found to have carried out an illegal collection in Mullingar. Mary Nevin, 7 Grange Heights and Marie Nevin, 68 Ardleigh Vale, both in Mullingar, appeared before Judge Seamus Hughes at the local district court. Both women were charged with holding an unauthorised collection in Newtown Lawns on April 20 last. The court heard the collection was arranged to help send John Joe's parents and his wife and son to London to support his Olympic bid. However, unbeknown to the ladies, according to their solicitor, Robert Marren, an application for the permit had been refused, with no grounds cited. Outlining the facts, Inspector Dermot Drea, for the DPP, said Brian McKeown of Cavan Boxing Club had informed investigating gardaí he had not authorised this collection. However, in evidence Mr McKeown said John Joe Nevin has been a member of the club for the last 15 years and club members were anxious to raise funds for the Nevin family. But the club had already used their annual collection permit and an application was lodged in respect of a collection in the Westmeath area. "I applied for the permit on behalf of the Nevins and I composed the card," Mr McKeown told the court. "It could only be used once the permit was granted. The permit was refused but I don't know why," he added. Before leaving the witness box, Mr McKeown said Cavan Boxing Club is very proud of John Joe Nevin, adding that the media should be ashamed of themselves for dragging his name through the mud. "The papers are only reporting the facts. The entire country is proud of John Joe Nevin," retorted Judge Hughes, who told the defendants if they produced €125 each for Cavan Boxing Club he would deal with the matter in a lenient manner.