Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has criticised Conor McGregor following the UFC fighter’s controversial meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on St Patrick’s Day.
The meeting drew widespread backlash online, prompting swift responses from Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, who distanced Ireland from McGregor’s actions.
Both leaders emphasised that McGregor does not represent the Irish people and has no mandate to speak on behalf of the nation.
In a strongly-worded Instagram post, Mr Varadkar referenced the legal case in which a jury found McGregor civilly liable in a lawsuit brought by Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ní Laimhín.
Ms Hand, 35, had accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Following a three-week trial last year, the jury ruled in her favour, awarding her damages and costs.
A High Court judge in Dublin later stated that the jury had “conclusively determined” that McGregor had raped Ms Hand. McGregor is currently appealing the ruling.
Commenting on the matter, Mr Varadkar wrote: “Good Irish dads teach their sons to detest men like Conor and their daughters to avoid men like him. Irish America knows this.“
During his visit to the White House, McGregor made a series of unfounded claims about immigration in Ireland while speaking in the press briefing room.
In addition, McGregor referred to Ireland as “America’s little bro,” adding, “We wish to be taken care of by the big bro.”
Despite the controversy, McGregor praised Mr Trump’s work ethic as “inspiring” during their meeting in the Oval Office. The US President, in turn, described McGregor as “fantastic.”
