General election candidate Philip Sutcliffe has resigned from the Independent Ireland party ahead of a meeting about his support for Conor McGregor. Sutcliffe, a Dublin city councillor and former boxing coach for McGregor, had accompanied McGregor to his High Court hearing on Friday, where McGregor was found guilty of assaulting Nikita Hand.
Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue, a co-founder of Independent Ireland, told The Irish Times that Sutcliffe was approached for a further meeting. However, before the meeting could take place, Sutcliffe resigned from the party. O’Donoghue acknowledged Sutcliffe’s contributions to boxing but stated that the party does not condone his association with McGregor or his intention to meet Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch. The party stands firmly for law and order.
Following his resignation, Sutcliffe will continue his political career as an independent candidate. Independent Ireland released a statement confirming Sutcliffe’s departure and his intention to remain in politics as a non-party representative. He will persist with his general election campaign and, if elected, will serve in Dáil Éireann as an independent TD.