Representatives from the IABA have fronted up before the Dail's Joint Committee on Transport and Communications today.
Thus far, Joe Christle has talked and talked and talked. By far, the second most talkative member on the IABA side has been another solicitor and another director, Ciaran Kirwan.
However, Fergal Carruth, the CEO of the IABA, and the man most were anxious to hear from, has said precious little.
Not even when the questions specifically related to him was he moved to comment.
Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley even asked Joe Christle whether he had heard if there was a 'dysfunctional relationship' between Billy Walsh and Fergal Carruth.
Christle admitted that this proposition had been put to him by the chairman of the Irish Sports Council Kieran Mulvey at a meeting in Athlone in June.
Following this contribution, Mulvey, representing the Sports Council alongside John Treacy, piped up and said he raised the subject of their alleged dysfunctional relationship in late August.
Christle said that he was of the view that Carruth and Walsh enjoyed a healthy relationship. Bizarrely, Carruth didn't feel the need to volunteer the information that he enjoyed a healthy relationship with Walsh.
Fergal Carruth's name has been mentioned several times in IABA/Sport Ireland hearing in Oireachtas but he hasn't opened his mouth. Bizarre.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) October 28, 2015
When questions about public confidence in the organisation were raised, the quartet decided that the best person to answer those questions was director Ciaran Kirwan and not the CEO.
Surely, the CEO of the organisation should have fielded the question about public confidence
— Mark Gallagher (@bailemg) October 28, 2015
Joe Christle felt he was best placed to refute the allegation that Carruth had not sought to leverage his own salary against Walsh's proposed rise.
Christle says CEO Carruth never sought to leverage his own salary against Walsh's proposed rise.
— Kevin Byrne (@KevByrneBox) October 28, 2015
It was only when Carruth was personally asked a direct question by Roscommon-South Leitrim TD Michael Fitzmaurice, did he open his mouth. He was asked whether he had cancelled any meetings with Billy Walsh in recent months.
I have not cancelled any meetings with Billy. Absolutely not. We would have seen each other quite a bit (in the last three months) and most of our meetings would have been informal.
Prior to this fairly slight contribution, many were wondering why he had said so little.
Does Fergal Carruth have laryngitis or something? Pretty odd he hasn't said anything yet
— Mark Gallagher (@bailemg) October 28, 2015
Does Fergal Carruth have a clause saying he can't talk at Oireachtas hearings? Strange to me that CEO has said nothing so far. #billywalsh
— Emmet Riordan (@emmetrd) October 28, 2015
After a long, long time...
Fergal Carruth is finally speaking
— Marie Crowe (@mariecrowe) October 28, 2015
Carruth has latterly piped up on a number of matters, including the statements certain boxers made after Walsh's departure. But he has occupied precious little airtime compared to the highly verbose duo of Joe Christle and Ciaran Kirwan.
Of course, the hearing isn't over yet.
Fergal Carruth may yet deliver himself of a Hamlet like soliloquy, pouring his heart out on all matters Billy Walsh, and giving everyone a clear insight into what went down in those negotiations.
We suspect not.
Read more: USA Boxing Release Statement On Billy Walsh To Rub Salt Into Irish Wounds
