Posted online: Aug 26th, 2010

By Alan Healy
Deputy Editor
A LOCAL boxing club may to have close its doors after being cheated out of £2k in an alleged charity scam which targeted scores of organisations across the UK.
Cityside ABC was just one of a number of boxing clubs who applied to The National Task Force (NTFUK), for help in acquiring equipment for the club.
The not-for-profit social enterprise had told the club that they would buy a new ring for their gym at the Rath Mór centre in Creggan, on the condition that the club put up £850 of the £4,600 needed for the purchase.
Cityside were then informed by solicitors representing NTF that the group had ceased trading as of August 5th, with no sign of the ring or their money.
It was reported in a national newspaper yesterday that the body is now being investigated over claims that boxing clubs in both Scotland and Wales also handed over substantial sums of money for rings which they never received.
Concerns over the activities of the NTF prompted the Northern Ireland Council For Voluntary Action (NICVA) to issue a warning to local organisations earlier this month to avoid any dealings with the body.
However, that warning may have come too late for Cityside ABC who have now been left without a boxing ring after having donated their own to another organisation whilst they awaited the new equipment pledged by the NTF.
Speaking to the Derry News yesterday, Paddy Weir, Cityside ABC Chairman said he was ‘disgusted’ by the NTF’s actions.
“We’ve handed over the guts of £2,000 to them and now we’ve been left high and dry,” he said.
“Training is starting again tonight and we have 40 kids who we can’t provide for because we put our trust in this organisation.”