Remarks made by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor’s about immigration during a visit to the White House have been criticised by Irish politicians as “wrong” and “outrageous”.
McGregor’s St Patrick’s Day meeting with Donald Trump came after the US president last week identified the Dubliner as his favourite Irish person during a press conference in the Oval Office with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Speaking to reporters at the White House yesterday, McGregor claimed “Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness” and that “the illegal immigration racket is running ravage”.
The Taoiseach later described McGregor’s remarks as “wrong” and said they “do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland”.
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McGregor later responded to the Taoiseach, telling Sky News that “every available metric has shown that the Government of Ireland currently has failed the people of Ireland”.
He suggested Dublin is one of the most dangerous cities in Europe. “I won’t speak about him [Mr Martin] personally or throw a jab. I could. I could throw many jabs at them.”
Tánaiste Simon Harris said McGregor “doesn’t speak for the people of Ireland and has no mandate to do so”. Labour leader Ivana Bacik said McGregor’s comments were “outrageous and do not reflect the positive diversity of modern Ireland”.
McGregor has in recent years suggested he might contest the upcoming Irish presidential election and has espoused anti-immigrant sentiments.
Last November, a jury in a High Court civil case found he raped Dublin woman Nikita Hand in 2018 and awarded her €248,603 in damages.
McGregor’s appeal aimed at overturning the jury’s finding is due to come before the Court of Appeal this week for the purpose of making directions to progress the matter.
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Rachel Morrogh said reports of the fighter’s meeting with the US president were “shocking” given the civil judgment against him came “only 16 weeks ago”.
Footage of the Oval Office meeting shows Mr Trump directing the Mr McGregor to a map of the Gulf of Mexico, which he has sought to rename as the Gulf of America.
McGregor said “congratulations”, adding: “I’ll tell you what your work ethic is inspiring. Your work rate is inspiring.“
Mr Trump replied “yours is too. You are fantastic”.
