Founder of Cork rape crisis centre says McGregor White House visit was ‘outrageous’

The founder of Cork’s rape crisis centre has spoken out against the St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House by mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Conor McGregor.

Mary Crilly, who founded what is now the Sexual Violence Centre Cork more than four decades ago, described the sight of Mr McGregor being feted by the president of the United States as “outrageous”.

“We have a fight on our hands, and we have to keep turning back the tide of violence against women,” she said.

In November, Mr McGregor was found civilly liable in a High Court damages case taken by a woman who accused him of rape. Nikita Hand won a claim against Mr McGregor, after accusing the professional fighter of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Ms Hand was awarded damages and costs after a three-week trial last year in which the jury found him civilly liable for assault.

Mr McGregor is appealing. He has indicated that he may seek to stand in November’s Irish presidential election, but to get on the ballot he would first need to be nominated by four local authorities or 20 of the Oireachtas.

Concern

Ms Crilly said she was confident that the people of Ireland would make clear that Mr McGregor did not represent them “in any form”, but she expressed concern about his high-profile US visit. 

“I think the whole thing is outrageous, for him to be in the White House, claiming he talks for the people of Ireland. He needs to be told that he does not speak for us."

Ms Crilly added that she had appreciated the comments of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and former taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who had all criticised Mr McGregor.

She said the importance of consent needed to be instilled in boys from an early age. 

“It’s worrying that the issue of violence against women is still there, is still endemic, and that some people still think it’s not a big deal and it doesn’t matter,” Ms Crilly said. 

“The issue of educating boys and men about women and about how important they are needs to begin in primary school, and nearly needs to begin in playschool.”