Northern Ireland

Colin Murray makes £5k mankini dash through Belfast

Colin Murray (front, centre) poses with supporters during his mankini-clad charity run through Belfast
Colin Murray (front, centre) poses with supporters during his mankini-clad charity run through Belfast Colin Murray (front, centre) poses with supporters during his mankini-clad charity run through Belfast

IT was a sight many sales shoppers had not bargained for: Dundonald-born broadcaster Colin Murray naked, save for a Borat-style 'mankini'.

However, the TalkSport presenter proudly paraded his barely-covered body around Belfast city centre on St Stephen's Day to honour a bet, raising more than £5,000 for a charity in the process.

In February last year, the former News Letter journalist tweeted: "If Northern Ireland qualify for Euro 2016 I'll run through Belfast city centre in a green mankini. Without any shame whatsoever."

There must have been mixed emotions in the Murray house when Michael O'Neill's men duly secured their trip to France earlier this year.

The bet became a charity fundraising opportunity, with proceeds from the derriere-baring dash going to Frame Football, a Northern Ireland charity organising specially adapted matches for children with physical disabilities.

Murray (38) was joined on a chilly Saturday morning by CityBeat presenter Stephen Clements and a group of fellow NI supporters he dubbed 'the Green and White Mankini Army'.

He later tweeted: "Done! I'd rather be a man of my word in a mankini than a fully dressed bottler!"

The charity run was well-documented via photos posted on Murray's Twitter feed and, while reaction from social media followers was overwhelmingly supportive, one man summed up the thoughts of many:

"How can I unsee this???", pleaded Nick Hanshaw.

Donations to the campaign can still be made via https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/colinmurray.