Northern Ireland

West Belfast toddler Dáithí Mac Gabhann takes to the ring with boxer Paddy Barnes

Dáithí Mac Gabhann with Paddy Barnes at the beginning of the Ulster Elite Championship 2020 in the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Picture by Philip Walsh
Dáithí Mac Gabhann with Paddy Barnes at the beginning of the Ulster Elite Championship 2020 in the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Picture by Philip Walsh Dáithí Mac Gabhann with Paddy Barnes at the beginning of the Ulster Elite Championship 2020 in the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Picture by Philip Walsh
By Suzanne McGonagle

WEST Belfast toddler Dáithí Mac Gabhann took to the ring with boxer Paddy Barnes last night, knocking him to the floor at the Ulster Hall.

The three-year-old stole the show at the Ulster Elite Boxing finals as he faced the Olympic Games bronze medallist.

And it was the little boy who got the biggest cheer of the night as he sent Barnes to the floor with a few cheeky jabs as he made his ring debut at the famous Belfast venue.

Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Dáithí has already undergone a number of major surgeries and has been on the waiting list for a new heart for more than 500 days.

His parents Máirtín and Seph have been campaigning for people to become organ donors.

They launched the Donate4Dáithí campaign to raise awareness of organ donation in a bid to "give Dáithí the best chance of life".