Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has criticised tech billionaire Elon Musk’s expression of support for the potential candidacy of mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor.
Musk posted on his social media platform X: “Shame on Simon Harris for tyrannically blocking the will of the people of Ireland! Conor McGregor for president to save Ireland.”
Earlier this year, McGregor lost his appeal against a civil jury’s finding in favour of Dublin woman Nikita Hand, who accused him of rape.
Hand successfully sued McGregor in a civil court over an incident in which he was alleged to have “brutally raped and battered” her in a penthouse at a south Dublin hotel in December 2018.
Hand was awarded almost €250,000 in damages and McGregor was also ordered to pay about €1.3 million in legal costs following the November trial.
Speaking to reporters at the Fine Gael think-in in Mullingar today, Harris said: “I see Elon Musk joined in today – and sure, why not?”
He said Musk is “backing a man who has been found civilly liable for rape in our courts. That’s the sort of man he believes should be president of Ireland. But thank God – he might have a say as to who is president of the United States of America, but he’s no say in terms of who the president of Ireland is”.
McGregor has continuously said he wants to run for the presidency and has urged his supporters to get in touch with local councils.
The first local authority special meeting on the presidency is being held in Kerry today but McGregor did not attend to make his pitch to become the next president, while 14 other individuals did turn up today.
To be eligible to run, a candidate must be nominated either by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities.
They must also be an Irish citizen over the age of 35.
Several independents have expressed an interest in securing a nomination through the local authority process – but this will be difficult without the support of Government councillors.
Fine Gael has imposed the whip on its councillors that they cannot back any other candidate but their own Heather Humphreys.
Asked about the move today, Harris said it is “balderdash” to suggest that Fine Gael councillors should facilitate the nomination of independent candidates to run for president.
The Fine Gael leader said it was an “utter nonsense” that his councillors should be expected to back anyone other than party candidate.
“Show me the line in the Constitution that says Fine Gael must nominate its political opponents. I mean, this is balderdash and it’s the latest attempt at disinformation and misinformation.”
He said: “The Fine Gael party is backing the Fine Gael candidate. Hold the front page.”
Harris said the constitutional process was “very clear” and added:
“It won’t come as a surprise to anybody who understands anything about politics that the Fine Gael party is fully united behind the incredible, brilliant Heather Humphreys, who’s going to make a super candidate, make a super president.”
The presidential election will be held on Friday October 24.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say