David Toal prosecutes Brian “BoMac” McIntyre

October 10, 2023

David Toal from Exchange Chambers has prosecuted world renowned American boxing trainer Brian McIntyre for bringing a gun into the UK.

McIntyre, 53, known as BoMac, had forgotten that a Smith and Wesson automatic self-loading pistol was in a zip compartment of his suitcase when he flew in from the US in August.

McIntyre, the long-term coach of undefeated multi-weight world champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford, arrived in this country to prepare British fighter Chris Eubank Jr for his fight with Liam Smith.

Officials at Manchester Airport discovered the firearm, together with seven rounds of ammunition, still in the zip compartment as McIntyre went through security ahead of his return flight to the USA on September 3, Manchester Crown Court heard.

McIntyre had a licence to carry the weapon in the United States but maintained that he was unaware it was in his luggage when he travelled until it was detected at the airport.

David Toal, prosecuting, said the gun and ammunition were discovered after it passed through scanners at the airport’s Terminal 2 at just before 9.45am.

Body-worn footage from a Border Force officer was played to the court, in which McIntyre says: “I swear to God man, I didn’t know that gun was in the bag.”

McIntyre was arrested and later told police it was a “honest mistake and I deeply regret this”.

In his basis of plea, accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service, the defendant said the gun and ammunition never left his suitcase while he was in the UK.

McIntyre admitted unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

Judge Nicholas Dean KC, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester, heard a significant amount of evidence about the good work McIntyre did in his home state of Nebraska which included running the B and B gym with Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (currently acknowledged as the best pound for pound boxer in the world). The Judge heard oral evidence from a number of people who had travelled from the USA to the UK to support McIntyre in court including from Crawford.

The Judge used his discretion not to impose the mandatory minimum term of 5 years imprisonment for such an offence and instead imposed a 20-month jail term, suspended for two years.

The judge said he accepted McIntyre’s explanation that he had travelled extensively within the US in the days and weeks before his journey to Manchester and had forgotten about the presence of the gun in his luggage. He also acknowledged the “authentic and powerful” character evidence which he said made a difference to his approach to the case.

McIntyre was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,080.