Chris Eubank Jr’s trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, has been given a 20-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to gun charges.
McIntyre, 53, was charged and detained in custody after security officials found a loaded gun and ammunition in a suitcase at Manchester Airport last month.
The alarm was raised when a scan of the cornerman’s baggage, which was checked in ahead of a flight, showed the weapon, bullets and a magazine inside.
Police officers then descended on the departure lounge at Terminal 2 and arrested McIntyre, who was due to fly to Atlanta, for possession of a firearm.
He was subsequently remanded in custody until his court appearance.
However, McIntyre has now avoided jail, with the sentence suspended for two years. As a result, he is able to walk away from court at the conclusion of a lengthy hearing.
Unbeaten welterweight boxing world champion Terence Crawford was among those to give evidence in person alongside others from the United States.
McIntyre had guided Eubank Jr to his emphatic victory against Liam Smith in their rematch on September 2 before seeking to leave the country the next morning.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: ‘At around 10:45 am on Sunday 3 September 2023, officers were called to reports of a possible firearm being found in hold luggage by airport staff at Manchester Airport.
‘After initial inspection by security staff, GMP officers attended, and the firearm was seized.
‘Subsequently, a 53-year-old man was arrested for possession of a firearm and was taken to custody for further questioning.
‘Brian McIntyre (01/07/1970) from the United States of America was charged with possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate.
‘McIntyre attended Stockport Magistrates court this morning where he was further remanded into custody.
‘He is next due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Monday 9 October 2023.’
Eubank Jr addressed McIntyre’s arrest 10 days after the incident, telling The MMA Hour: ‘I can’t talk too much on it because there’s a lot of legal stuff going on.
‘I still don’t even know how it happened, why it happened, it’s a crazy, crazy situation. We’re just going to pray that you can get him out of there and get him back to where he’s supposed to be.
‘He’s a great trainer and he has a great team around him. I’ve never had a team before, I know that sounds insane but it is the truth, I’ve trained myself for many, many years and when I did have trainers it was just one guy.
‘I trained with Roy Jones for a few years, he was supposed to train me for this fight but he couldn’t do it.’
Eubank Jr’s team declined to comment when Mail Sport exclusively broke the story.
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘While we do not routinely comment on individual cases, Border Force undertakes to perform 100% checks on scheduled passengers arriving in the UK.’
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