Paddy Barnes has responded on Twitter to comments which Minister of State for Sport, Michael Ring, made about him during the week.
Michael Ring was asked for his response to Barnes assertion that Irish boxers were training “in a 1970s gym more or less and everything has to be modernised."
Quoted in the Irish Times, the Minster of State said:
Moreover, I hope he does as well as a professional boxer as he did with the Irish Sports Council, because he has received a substantial amount of money from taxpayers. Nevertheless, I wish him the very best of luck. He did his country proud and we were delighted with him.
The two-time Olympic medalist responded this evening with some fighting words.
1/2 @MichaelRingTD your right I have receives a lot of tax payers money for the sport I'm in, you have received more than me though and
— Paddy Barnes (@paddyb_ireland) December 20, 2013
2/2 @MichaelRingTD you have nothing to show for it, I've 2 Olympic medals all you have is a clean suit and a big bank balance! #realtalk
— Paddy Barnes (@paddyb_ireland) December 20, 2013
