Hometown memorial for Irish boxer Darren Sutherland

Darren Sutherland won bronze in Beijing

A memorial to Olympic bronze medallist boxer Darren Sutherland is to be erected in his hometown in the Republic of Ireland.

The boxer was found hanged at his flat in Bromley, south London, on 14 September by his manager Frank Maloney.

He won a middleweight bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics and was a hot tip as a future world champion.

The mayor of Navan, Joe Riley, said that people in his hometown were "are all very proud of him".

Councillors unanimously agreed a memorial plaque to the boxer should be placed in the riverside setting of Andy Brennan Park.

"He is seen as part of Navan. He achieved a lot in his short life," Mr Riley said.

"The way that his life ended is very sad, but it cannot overshadow what he achieved."

Mr Sutherland's sudden death shocked the close-knit 30,000-strong Navan community who, in a year, have swung from the joy of celebrating Sutherland's Olympic bronze medal to hosting his funeral.

Mr Riley is to meet the boxer's parents, Tony and Linda, and the rest of the Sutherland family to discuss details of the design of the memorial, which will be erected some time in 2010.

The boxer moved from Navan in 2008 after the Olympics and lived with Mr Maloney and his family for four months before getting his own flat in February 2009.

He won his first four professional bouts after switching weights to become a super middleweight after the Olympics.

Another professional bout had been lined up for October 2009 - but then came the news of his death.

The Metropolitan Police are not treating the death as suspicious.