sentences:  Born in the hardest hit area of Belfast during the ‘Troubles’ Sam was introduced to boxing from an early age as his father was the Irish National Coach.Sam lived through many turbulent years of violence and riots yet he did not use these traumatic beginnings as an excuse, the opposite in fact as it was through sport, and boxing in particular that Sam avoided being involved in the Sectarianism that gripped Belfast during these grim times.Sam went on to win every amateur title in Ireland and represented his country in the European, Commonwealth and Olympic Games.