Former UFC champion and Ireland native Conor McGregor is reportedly under investigation for “online hate speech” linked to comments made on social media criticizing Irish authorities for their handling of a suspected Algerian immigrant stabbing five people, including three children, last week.
McGregor, one of Ireland’s most famous citizens with approximately 60 million followers on Instagram and X, weighed in on the assault on social media following the attack, saying, “Ireland, we are at war.”
“Do not let any irish property be took over unannounced,” McGregor said on X. “Evaporate said property. It’s a war.”
Violent riots erupted in Ireland’s capital, Dublin, on Thursday after the alleged assailant stabbed five people, including two adults and three children as young as five years old, near a school in the city center. All but one of the victims in the attack reportedly continue to receive medical treatment.
The night of violence resulted in the arrest of at least 34 of the reported 500 rioters — some of whom set a bus and police car ablaze and damaged multiple buildings as officials suspended all public transport in the city.
Irish Garda commissioner Drew Harris labeled the Dublin riots as “disgraceful scenes” caused by a “hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology.” But the police commissioner’s remarks were met with harsh criticism from UFC superstar.
“Innocent children ruthlessly stabbed by a mentally deranged non-national in Dublin, Ireland today,” McGregor said. “Our chief of police had this to say on the riots in the aftermath. Drew, not good enough. There is grave danger among us in Ireland that should never be here in the first place, and there has been zero action done to support the public in any way, shape or form with this frightening fact. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Make change or make way. Ireland for the victory. God bless those attacked today, we pray.”
After his initial remarks, McGregor emphasized he did not condone the Dublin riots, stolen property and destruction, or any attacks on first responders.
“Last nights scenes achieved nothing toward fixing the issues we face,” he said. “I do understand frustrations however, and I do understand a move must be made to ensure the change we need is ushered in. And fast! I am in the process of arranging. Believe me I am way more tactical and I have backing. There will be change in Ireland, mark my words.”
But as authorities organized to confront rioters, McGregor’s comments echoed across the Internet as reports swirled that the suspect was a foreign national, sparking the large anti-immigration protest to flood the streets of Dublin.
McGregor’s comments instantly made the mixed martial artist a leading voice in Ireland as the nation deals with an influx of immigrants, which reportedly has risen to its second-highest level in recent months and among the highest per capita in the European Union.
Authorities reportedly have since launched an investigation into the mixed martial arts fighter as part of an inquiry into the dissemination of so-called online hate speech, according to The Sunday Times.
The investigation comes as Irish officials have reportedly started preparing to pass radical legislation concerning the public speech law, which historically has lacked a consistent definition.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadker recently told local media that the lawmakers should immediately pass the legislation in the next few weeks to target individuals who post “messages and images that stir up hatred and violence.”
Varadkar says hate speech law to be pushed through in the next few weeks to go after individuals who post images that stir up hatred online…. pic.twitter.com/YSJxr6rjUf
— Caoimhin 🇮🇪 (@Caoimhinn55) November 24, 2023
The Sunday World reported Minister for Foreign Affairs Tanaiste Micheál Martin said that speaking against mass immigration in Ireland is “essentially inciting hate” and such remarks “of that type” are “absolutely disgraceful.”
Although Martin did not specifically name McGregor in his remarks, he claimed that voices like McGregor’s are “isolated and “are inciting hate and to some degree incitement is unacceptable.”
McGregor responded to Martin, referencing a Slovak national who was reportedly found guilty last week of stabbing to death 23-year-old Irish teacher and musician Ashling Murphy in 2022.
“Blame anyone but themselves,” McGregor said. “Typical. Worthless you are Michaél. Worthless and spineless. Ryan Casey called you all out last week grieving the love of his life, stolen by pawn scum, and nothing but waffle from you all since. Zero action!”
In other comments, McGregor called on citizens of Ireland to oppose the nation’s immigration policies amid the recent attacks, saying to his followers, “We are not losing any more of our woman and children to sick and twisted people who should not even be in Ireland in the first place.”
“Call it what you want,” he added. “We do not care. May God help us all. Ireland for victory.”
Zach Jewell contributed to this report.