Shane Lowry ends sponsorship deal with Kingspan

Shane Lowry will no longer be sponsored by Irish building materials company Kingspan, confirming in a statement that the two had "mutually agreed to discontinue our sponsorship relationship".

The 2019 Open champion has faced calls since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, where 72 people died in 2017, to drop Kingspan as a sponsor.

Last week's report on the fire found that the Cavan-based company "knowingly created a 'false market' in insulation for use on buildings over 18 metres in height".

Kingspan's K15 insulation product made up around 5% of the insulation in the tower block and was used without the company's knowledge.

The report found that the principal reason for the fire spread was cladding, which was not made by Kingspan.

Ulster Rugby are following the lead of the Mercedes Formula One team and winding down their deal with Kingspan this season, a partnership that has run since 2005.

The Guardian reported ahead of the report that the Grenfell United survivors' group has repeatedly contacted Lowry regarding his Kingspan deal.

"We’ve been writing to him [Lowry] for years, saying get this sponsorship off your arm," said Ed Daffarn. "It’s deeply upsetting and deeply offensive, and he doesn’t reply to us."

Lowry has now taken the decision to end his sponsorship deal with Kingpan, as per the below statement.

"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."