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The Journal
18 minutes ago
- The Journal
I do not think Conor McGregor is fit to be president of Ireland, minister says
CONOR MCGREGOR WOULD not be fit to be president of Ireland, a minister has said. Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien compared MMA fighter McGregor, 37, to Ireland's outgoing president Michael D Higgins, who is a former arts minister and sociology lecturer. O'Brien said McGregor was free to challenge the process to get on the presidential ballot paper but that the Irish constitution was 'clear'. He was responding to comments from McGregor to The Sunday Times where he said he is considering a legal challenge to the eligibility rules for the presidential elections. To become a candidate, a person must be nominated by either 20 members of the Irish parliament or four local authorities. They also must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older. An election for the largely ceremonial role is expected towards the end of October, as it must take place in the 60 days before outgoing President Michael D Higgins' term ends on November 11. So far, two candidates have secured sufficient nominations to get on the ballot: former farming journalist and EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who is the Fine Gael nominee; and Catherine Connolly, a left-wing independent and former Galway mayor who has received the backing of opposition parties and independents. Advertisement Several figures have said they intend to seek the nominations needed to get on the ballot, including Riverdance star Michael Flatley, millionaire entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, and previous presidential candidate Peter Casey, as well as McGregor. Asked about McGregor's intention to legally challenge process to be nominated as a presidential candidate, O'Brien said he was within his right to take a case but did not believe he would be nominated. 'Like any citizen, he's entitled to take a case should he wish, but the constitution is clear on that, the nomination process is clear,' the Fianna Fáil TD said. 'I don't envisage he'll be nominated to run for president. But look, I think it's open to any citizen to take a challenge, should they wish. 'The office of Uachtaran na hEireann is the highest office in the land. 'It's a critically important office. If you look at the work that Michael D Higgins has done over the last 14 years and representing our country abroad with such distinction, I would just ask people to draw the comparison to what our president has done, and what someone like Conor McGregor might do. 'So I don't think he would be fit to hold that office.' Last month, McGregor has lost his appeal against a civil jury's finding in favour of Dublin woman Nikita Hand, who accused him of rape. Ms Hand, 35, 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. Ms Hand was awarded almost 250,000 euro in damages and McGregor was also ordered to pay about 1.3 million euro in legal costs following the November trial.
Irish Post
30 minutes ago
- Irish Post
Family firms partner up to expand construction operations across Ireland
TWO family-owned firms have partnered up to expand construction operations and strengthen their presence across Ireland. Newry-based builders merchants Murdock Group has joined forces with construction supplier SDG, headquartered in Armagh. It is hoped the move will allow both companies to expand their reach into new sectors and regions, while adding further scale and strength to operations across the whole island. "This partnership is about more than investment — it's about impact," said Karol McGuckin, Managing Director of Murdock Technical Solutions. "We see huge potential in the specialist construction space, and SDG's deep expertise and reputation make them the perfect partner as we continue to expand our presence across Ireland." He added: "SDG has built its success on strong relationships, technical excellence, and a customer-first approach — all values we share at Murdock Group. "Together, we have the scale, the ambition, and the local insight to make a real difference in the market." 'Shared values' Murdock Group includes Murdock Builders Merchants, Brooks Timber & Building Supplies, Murdock Civils, Murdock Roof Trusses, Cranwood Industries and Dublin Plywood & Veneer. The firm already has outlets across Dublin and the North, with the addition of SDG bolstering its market strength while unlocking new commercial opportunities in complementary sectors. The move marks a key step in the group's strategic vision for long-term, sustainable growth in the Irish market. For SDG, the partnership will strengthen its existing position as a leading supplier of specialist construction products throughout Ireland and Britain. The firm, which also has an office in Monaghan, will benefit from enhanced support and resources through the Murdock Group, enabling it to fast-track growth plans. SDG will continue to operate independently under its own name, led by CEO Louise Skeath and the existing senior leadership team. "This is an incredibly exciting chapter for SDG," said Ms Skeath. "Murdock Group brings the strength and stability of a wider network, but just as importantly, they bring shared values and a deep understanding of the Irish construction landscape. "This partnership creates huge opportunity, not only for our team, but for the customers and suppliers we serve." History SDG was founded in 1990 by Seamus Duffy, who remains chairman of the firm. It works with manufacturers, contractors, engineers and designers, supplying key components that improve safety, enhance quality and drive efficiency at every stage of construction. Murdock Builders Merchants was originally established in 1982 with the setting up-up of Newry Building Supplies. Now boasting 14 builders merchants branches, two bespoke timber sites and a civils division, it is one of the leading suppliers of building materials and timber in the island of Ireland.
RTÉ News
33 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Homeless must be moved 'far' from Washington
US President Donald Trump has said that homeless people must be moved "far" from Washington, after days of musing about taking federal control of the US capital where he has falsely suggested crime is rising. The Republican billionaire has announced a press conference for tomorrow, in which he is expected to reveal his plans for Washington - which is run by the locally elected government of the District of Columbia under congressional oversight. It is an arrangement Mr Trump has long publicly chafed at. He has threatened to federalize the city and give the White House the final say in how it is run. "I'm going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before," the president posted on his Truth Social platform. "The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital," he continued, adding that criminals in the city would be swiftly imprisoned. "It's all going to happen very fast," he said. Washington is ranked 15th on a list of major US cities by homeless population, according to government statistics from last year. While thousands of people spend each night in shelters or on the streets, the figure are down from pre-pandemic levels. Earlier this week, Mr Trump also threatened to deploy the National Guard as part of a crackdown on what he falsely says is rising crime in Washington. Violent crime in the capital fell in the first half of 2025 by 26 percent compared with a year earlier, police statistics show. The city's crime rates in 2024 were already their lowest in three decades, according to figures produced by the Justice Department before Trump took office. "We are not experiencing a crime spike," Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said on MSNBC. While the mayor, a Democrat, was not critical of Mr Trump in her remarks, she said "any comparison to a war torn country is hyperbolic and false." Mr Trump's threat to send in the National Guard comes weeks after he deployed California's military reserve force into Los Angeles to quell protests over immigration raids, despite objections from local leaders and law enforcement. The president has frequently mused about using the military to control America's cities, many of which are under Democratic control and hostile to his nationalist impulses.
