7 per cent of public would vote for Conor McGregor to be president, would you?

Eva Osborne

Just seven per cent of the public would vote for Conor McGregor for president, as Mairead McGuinness soars ahead in a poll carried out by the Irish Independent.

Former EU commissioner Mairead ­McGuinness has solidified her lead in the polls in the race to be the country’s next president, as the vast majority of the Irish public have said they would not vote for Conor McGregor.

The former Fine Gael MEP and broadcaster came out with the highest ranking by far at 27 per cent support, the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll shows, when the public was asked to choose from nine possible right-leaning candidates.

Former UFC fighter McGregor would require the nomination of 20 members of the Oireachtas, or four local authorities to get on this year's ballot paper.

Over two thirds of people said they would be less likely to vote for their local TD or councillor in the next election if they nominated him.

Founder of Ireland Thinks, Kevin Cunningham, said he thought it was going to be stronger against McGregor in that regard.

"The question was if your local TD or county councillor nominated Conor McGregor to run for president, would that make you less likely, more likely, or make no difference in terms of whether you'd vote for them - that is, the councillor - at the next election," he said.

"69 per cent said less likely, 21 said no difference, one not sure, and nine more likely. Now, I think I would add that up as 30 to 31 per cent for whom it doesn't necessarily make a difference."

A few months ago, McGregor was found civilly liable in a High Court damages case in Dublin taken by a woman who accused him of rape.

Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ní Laimhín, won her claim against McGregor after accusing the professional fighter of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

Ms Hand, 35, was awarded damages and costs after a three-week trial last year in which the jury found him civilly liable for assault.