Irish golfer Shane Lowry ends Kingspan sponsorship deal after Grenfell report

Irish golfer Shane Lowry has ended his partnership with construction firm Kingspan, a week after the publication of the report into the Grenfell fire.

The Offaly man had come under pressure to end his sponsorship deal with the Irish building materials company since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, in which 72 people died in west London in June 2017.

The move has been welcomed by the families of victims and survivors of the tragedy.

Lowry, who is due to play in the Irish Open at Royal County Down this week, released a brief statement on Tuesday morning.

The Ryder Cup player said: “Kingspan and I have mutually agreed to discontinue our sponsorship relationship, which we believe to be the right decision for all concerned at this time. Neither party will be commenting further.”

The final report of the Grenfell Inquiry, published last week, said the west London tower block was covered in combustible products because of the “systematic dishonesty” of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation.

Kingspan had, from 2005 and even after the inquiry began in the wake of the fire, “knowingly created a false market in insulation” for use on buildings over 18 metres tall (59ft), it said.

The Grenfell inquiry concluded that while the cladding on the outside of the tower was “primarily responsible” for the fire’s rapid spread, other products including Kingspan’s K15 insulation “made a contribution” as they did not comply with guidance on flammable material for use in high-rises.

The report found Kingspan had used “dishonest strategies” and had a shown a “complete disregard” for fire safety over a number of years.

Lowry had been under pressure to end the sponsorship deal after a spokesman for Grenfell United criticised the golfer for ignoring calls to address the issue.

Ed Daffarn, a member of the Grenfell United group of families, told The Guardian that Mr Lowry had the Kingspan logo on the sleeve of his golf shirts, which he described as “deeply offensive”.

On Tuesday evening, the group said: “We first presented Shane Lowry with the Inquiry’s evidence three years ago, so we are pleased he has made the right decision to cut ties with Kingspan.

“We now call on all other sports professionals to follow suit and play their part to create a legacy for the 72 innocent lives that were cut short at Grenfell”.

Ulster Rugby had also been criticised for their continuing association with the firm following the disaster.

After two decades with the club, Kingspan “signalled its intention” to conclude its association with the club on a phased basis by June 2025.

Representatives of golfer Leona Maguire, who is also sponsored by Kingspan, has been asked for comment on whether she will continue the partnership.

Kingspan, which is headquartered in Co Cavan, also sponsors Cavan GAA stadium Breffni Park.

Northern Ireland’s Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons said that sports sponsorship deals were a matter for those involved, but added that the conclusions of the inquiry should be taken “very, very seriously”.

“Look in terms of the sponsorship arrangements, it’s obviously an issue for individual sports, and it’s not something that the minister gets directly involved in,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.

“But I think that it would be incumbent upon everybody to read what was in that report and the conclusions that were made, to take those very, very seriously, to keep in mind those that have been most affected by this and to make appropriate considerations in light of all of that.”

He also said: “I think first and foremost, we need to realise that there are bereaved families and injured people at the heart of all of this. I met last week with the minister responsible in London to make sure that we’re doing everything that we can in Northern Ireland, that we don’t see a repeat of what took place in London.”

Earlier this week, Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin said it is for the UK authorities to pursue companies over the Grenfell Tower fire.

Mr Martin was responding to comments by former UK housing secretary Michael Gove that criminal prosecutions should be brought against Grenfell Tower cladding firms, including the Ireland-based firm.

Mr Martin said he was “surprised” by Mr Gove’s comments as reported in the Sunday Times at the weekend.

Mr Gove claimed attempts to punish Kingspan, Arconic and Celotex when he was in government had been blocked by “bureaucracies”.