Former Olympic boxer Philip Sutcliffe, who once coached Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor and now serves as a Dublin city councillor, has triggered a public controversy in Ireland after sharing a highly antisemitic video on his WhatsApp status.
The video included clips of Adolf Hitler alongside narration promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories, including claims of Jewish “degenerate Hollywood,” pornography and the “white replacement.” It also claimed the world has a “serious Jewish problem” and called for a “real final solution” — a phrase associated with the Nazi extermination plan during the Holocaust.
The backlash erupted after the video was circulated on Sutcliffe’s WhatsApp status. Sutcliffe, who was elected in 2024 to the Dublin City Council representing the Ballyfermot–Drimnagh area, later removed the post following strong criticism from Ireland’s Jewish community and politicians.
In his defence, Sutcliffe said he had shared the video without fully watching it. “I probably shared something I shouldn’t have,” he said, adding that someone had sent it to him and he likely “just hit the share button.” He also insisted he does not support the antisemitic content.
Ireland’s Jewish community reacted with anger. The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland said members of the community are “tired” of incitement and rising antisemitism, stressing that if similar prejudice were directed at another minority, there would be immediate and clear condemnation.
Irish reports also noted this is not the first time Sutcliffe has faced controversy over social media posts. Last year he apologised after sharing a photo of a defaced ballot paper containing racist and homophobic remarks, again claiming it was a “accidentally shared.”
The incident has drawn wider public attention due to Sutcliffe’s ties to McGregor, one of Ireland’s most famous athletes, whom he has coached in boxing and accompanied at public and political events.