A sports event due to be held in Co Monaghan on Saturday has been cancelled over safety concerns.

Sports Minister Shane Ross and Minister of State Brendan Griffin have welcomed the cancellation of the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event 'Battle Arena 56'.

It was due to take place at Treacy's Hotel in Carrickmacross.

The hotel cancelled the event "once the seriousness of the situation was understood", the Department of Sport said in a statement.

The ministers thanked various bodies whose assistance was necessary in bringing about the cancellation.

This included An Garda Siochána, Monaghan County Council, the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, the Irish Red Cross and the HSE.

The ministers also issued a reminder to promoters of MMA events of their obligation to ensure all necessary safety precautions are taken - and that essential, appropriate medical services are provided.

Sports Minister Shane Ross (right) and the Minister of State for Sport, Brendan Griffin | Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Minister Ross said: "It was brought to my attention by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC), which is the statutory regulator for providers of pre-hospital emergency care in Ireland, that the emergency medical services at the Battle Arena 56 on the 25 May would have fallen far short of the recommendations of the Dublin Coroner in the inquest following the death of Joao Carvalho, and involve people who have not been not licensed in this jurisdiction."

"One can only react with dismay that any organiser of such an event would take such an approach with the health and safety of its participants.

"It is frankly unimaginable that any event promoter in this country is unaware of their obligations to ensure that any event of this nature does not expose the participants to an unacceptable level of risk and injury."

He added: "To be fair, there are some MMA event promoters who have ensured their events are as safe as possible and have ensured that their events abide by the recommendations of the Dublin Coroner in the inquest following the death of Joao Carvalho.

"I would urge all promoters to follow that example and fully implement the expected minimum safety standards for those participating and they should give due consideration to cancelling it if they cannot implement these basic precautions in full."

Mr Carvalho died following a fight in Dublin back in 2016.

A number of recommendations were made with the purpose of reducing the risk of death or serious injury at extreme combat sports events following a Dublin Coroner's Court inquest in February 2018 into his death.

The coroner returned a verdict of death by misadventure.