Sport

Holy Trinity coach Michael Hawkins pays tribute to former fighter and European champion, Patrick Browne

Paddy Browne with the European U16 gold medal he won at the 1992 championships in Italy
Paddy Browne with the European U16 gold medal he won at the 1992 championships in Italy Paddy Browne with the European U16 gold medal he won at the 1992 championships in Italy

HOLY Trinity coach Michael Hawkins has paid a warm tribute to former fighter and European champion Paddy Browne, who died suddenly on Tuesday.

Browne, who was 41, boxed for Holy Trinity around the late 1980s/early 1990s and was extremely highly-regarded by everybody at the Turf Lodge club, which has produced champion after champion through the years.

Boxing at light-flyweight, the Twinbrook man’s obvious talent was backed up by his industry both inside and outside the ropes, and he quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with when he progressed through the ranks in Ulster, then Ireland.

As a result, Browne – alongside Holy Trinity club-mate Michael Blaney - was selected to represent Ireland at the 1992 European U16 Championships in Roseto, Italy.

After some stunning performances, both men returned to Belfast with gold medals around their necks, Browne taking the 48kg crown after defeating Poland’s Krzysztof Suchomski in the decider.

Blaney came up trumps at 54kg, beating Romania’s Mihai Macovei in the final.

It was a proud day for Hawkins and all associated with Holy Trinity, and Paddy Browne’s friend and former coach remembers a “quiet, unassuming lad” who loved the sport.

“Paddy was a good lad - very steady, a real hard worker, somebody who really put the effort in,” said Hawkins.

“You have to remember, it’s not everybody who goes out to a European championships at any level and comes back with a medal, never mind actually winning a goal.

“They are few and far between, so it was a tremendous achievement, and one of which he was rightly proud.

“Away from boxing, Paddy was just a lovely, quiet lad who comes from a really lovely family. News of his passing was just such an awful shock for everybody. I’m lost for words, honestly.

“It’s so sad.”

Patrick Browne’s funeral takes place at St Luke’s Church this morning at 11am, followed by burial at Our Lady’s cemetery in Hannahstown.