Irish MMA star Conor McGregor is facing possible criminal charges that could result in up to seven years imprisonment if the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) determines his social media posts incited hatred during the November 2023 Dublin riots.
The Sunday Independent has revealed that officers from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) have completed their investigation into McGregor’s statements on social media and forwarded the file to the DPP for consideration.
The night before the riots, McGregor tweeted to his more than 10 million followers: “Ireland, we are at war.” This comment reportedly came in response to Ukrainians being allowed to vote in local elections.
The following day, November 23, a young schoolgirl was seriously injured along with others in a stabbing incident outside a school in Dublin’s north inner city. McGregor’s tweets surrounding this event have also been submitted to the DPP.
As the riots unfolded, McGregor wrote: “I don’t care about President Higgins statement. Or Varadkar’s statement. Or Mary Lou’s. Or Justice [Minister] McEntee’s. Or Garda Commissioner’s. Announce our plan of action!! What are we waiting for? Your statements of nothing are absolutely worthless to the solving of this issue. Take Action!! Fix this situation IMMEDIATELY!”
He later posted a photo of fires on O’Connell Street with the caption: “What would Daniel O’Connell say, I wonder? What would our Irish leaders past say on the situation we face today? God bless Ireland.”
The Dublin riots were fueled by online misinformation about the perpetrator of the school stabbing. The violence resulted in damage to 66 premises, injuries to 13 police officers, and 28 vehicles being subject to arson or criminal damage.
NBCI specialists reportedly determined McGregor’s posts met the criteria for alleged incitement to hatred. If the DPP decides to press charges, McGregor could face up to seven years in prison under the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024.
McGregor has since deleted the problematic tweets.
The investigation comes as McGregor, 36, has expressed political ambitions, claiming he will make a bid to run for the Irish presidency following his meeting with US President Donald Trump and White House officials on St. Patrick’s Day.
Political parties including Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have already instructed their councillors not to support McGregor’s potential candidacy. Former Ireland ambassador to the US, Dan Mulhall, stated it would be a “grave international embarrassment for Ireland if he did manage to become a candidate.”
Since the riots, police have arrested more than 50 people for public-order offenses, with over 20 charges for criminal damage and a similar number for burglary.
