Ricky Hatton inquest: Not clear former boxing world champion intended to take his own life, coroner rules
A coroner has said it was not clear that Ricky Hatton intended to take his own life during the inquest into the former boxing world champion’s death.
Ricky Hatton had made “significant future plans”, an inquest into his death has heard. The 46-year-old, described as a doting father, was said to have been in good spirits and despite past troubles with alcohol and drugs, had been the best “in years”, his family told Stockport Coroner’s Court heard.
On the evening of Friday September 12, the former boxing world champion took his daughters and granddaughter out to a pub for a meal where he appeared normal and after dropping them off told them he would see them in a couple of days.
Detective Sergeant Helen Grigalis, from Greater Manchester Police, told the hearing Hatton returned home after the meal at around 7.55pm. He sent a message to a friend at 8.05pm and his phone last unlocked at 12.02am early on Saturday September 13, with no further use after that time.
Hatton had been due to attend a boxing bout on Saturday in Bolton for a fighter he had trained. Det Sgt Grigalis said at 5.30pm a driver had arrived at Hatton’s house to take him to the event, but got no reply. The same driver returned at 7.30pm but again got no reply and left.
Hatton’s manager Paul Speak went to the house about 6.30am on the Sunday to take the star to the airport for his flight to Dubai for an exhibition boxing match, but also got no reply at the door. After letting himself in with his own key, Mr Speak found Hatton unresponsive in the upstairs games room.
Hatton was fully dressed. On the pool table was an empty bottle of wine and a half-full glass of wine was on the bar. The lights were off but music was playing from a TV. No notes were found. The house was secure with no signs of a disturbance.
Police and ambulance were called, who “confirmed life extinct”, but could not say when Hatton had died, the inquest heard. The officer added there was no evidence of suicidal ideation and Hatton not answering his door or phone was not unusual and did not cause suspicion.
Toxicologist Dr Stephanie Martin, who carried out blood and urine tests found the alcohol in his system was well over twice the drink-drive limit and there was also evidence of previous cocaine use, but not in the hours before death, and also traces of cannabis, but the use of drugs was said to have been unlikely to have contributed to his death. Post-mortem evidence also showed some damage to his brain identified as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) associated with boxing.
Alison Mutch, senior coroner for South Manchester, told the court that no notes had been found from Hatton and there was no information uncovered by police to suggest he was planning to take his own life. Concluding the inquest, she said: “He had made significant future plans and no notes were found indicating he intended to take his own life.
“I have listened very carefully to all the evidence. When I add everything together, I cannot be satisfied he intended to take his own life. Therefore, it is not possible in law for me to conclude suicide. I have concluded a narrative verdict. His intention remains unclear as he was under the influence of alcohol and the neuropathological post-mortem found evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy and that’s the conclusion I draw.”
The inquest was attended by the boxer’s father, son and ex-partner and mother of his daughters. Hatton’s son Campbell broke down in tears at the conclusion of the inquest and was hugged by his grandfather, Ray Hatton, 75.
Campbell said his father had been open in the past about his struggles with alcohol and drugs, but added: “The family believe he was the best he had been in years and made massive plans for the future which leads us to believe this was not premeditated.
“However, over the last two or three years we all noticed a significant decline in his short-term memory. He repeated himself constantly, had to write things down and had to be reminded about things he had to do day to day.”
Jennifer Dooley, mother of his daughters, Millie, 13, and Fearne, 12, and who was Hatton’s partner for 11 years until 2016, said he was a very hands-on father who doted on his children, and they all continued to spend time together after the split.
“He often said that the time he spent with his daughter was when he was happiest,” she said.
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