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Micheal Martin slams Conor McGregor for ‘inciting hate’ after outburst over Dublin riots

“There has been many comments I’ve watched online of that type which are “absolutely disgraceful,” Mr Marin told reporters.

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Tanaiste Micheal Martin has criticised comments from Conor McGregor as “absolutely disgraceful” in the wake of an outbreak of violence on the streets of Dublin.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs was asked to respond to comments posted online by McGregor where he said “Ireland, we are at war” and “you reap what you sow”.

While Mr Martin did not name McGregor, he said comments “of that type” are “essentially inciting hate”.

“There has been many comments I’ve watched online of that type which are “absolutely disgraceful,” Mr Marin told reporters.

“We have a parliamentary democracy, we value that, Irish people do as well.

“Isolated voices like that and voices that essentially are inciting hate and to some degree incitement is unacceptable.”

Following the comments, McGregor hit back with a scathing response, referencing the Ashling Murphy murder trial.

“Blame anyone but themselves. 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!”

McGregor continued: “Everything from our lax border with gravy train benefits, to our pitiful mental health services, to our country in flames is ON YOUR WATCH! And still no plan of action!! Where is our plan of action? What are we going to do to ensure this stops happening?

“How are we going to ensure this ceases to continue in our country? Ireland is fed up of you and YOUR TYPE. We are not stopping here until real change is implemented. We need safety. We need security. We need leadership! As of now we have none of the 3. Shame on you and YOUR TYPE.”

On Thursday, the Crumlin MMA star launched an astonishing attack on allowing immigrants to vote on his ‘X’ account declaring: “Ireland, we are at war”.

In a series of messages posted on his feed he adds: “Do not let any Irish property be took over (sic) unannounced. Evaporate (sic) said property. It’s a war.”

It follows earlier messages where he retweeted a comment by news website Gript, which criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for stating “everyone resident in Ireland can vote in Local Elections, regardless of nationality or visa status”.

Retweeting the Gript comment that offers “three reasons why allowing migrants to vote is ludicrous”, McGregor wrote: “Imagine a mega power nation allowing this absolute foolishness!!

“Imagine the United States! This is the most preposterous, ridiculous, scheming attempt at gaining votes this government has attempted yet.

“A real showing of the lack of care they have for the common Irish citizen. As it stands they do not have my vote. Shame on them!”

As violent scenes, including looting and attacks on gardai and public transport, broke out across Dublin city centre last night putting people in danger, McGregor continued to post incendiary comments.

Just after 10pm last night following the outbreak of chaos he wrote: “I don’t care about president higgins statement. Or Varadkars statement. Or Mary Lou’s. Or Justice 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!”

The statements had been made after three children and a woman were stabbed by an Algerian man outside a school on Parnell Street just after 1pm yesterday.

During shocking violence last night, 13 shops were significantly damaged or subject to looting, 11 garda vehicles destroyed through arson or extensively damaged and three Dublin Buses and a Luas tram were destroyed.

Later on last night, McGregor posted a photo of vehicles on fire on O’Connell Street and wrote: “ What would Daniel O’ Connell say I wonder? What would our Irish leaders past say on the situation we face today? God bless Ireland.”

Earlier, McGregor posted an angry response to video footage of an interview with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris last night where he condemned the “disgraceful scenes” in Dublin.

The garda commissioner said that a “hooligan faction driven by far right ideology” is behind the violence on the streets.

“Innocent children ruthlessly stabbed by a mentally deranged non-national in Dublin, Ireland today. 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.”

Earlier, McGregor wrote: “You reap what you sow.”

While there was some support online, McGregor was accused of stoking tensions online.

Others criticised McGregor’s comments online with one person writing: “Conor McGregor is an embarrassment to Ireland and has to be held accountable for his role in inciting tonight’s attacks in Dublin.”

Another wrote: “Ah yes, Conor McGregor – known protector to Irish women everywhere and lest we forget the time he clattered a pensioner for not wanting to drink his rank whiskey.”

McGregor has a conviction for assault after punching a man in the Marble Arch pub in Drimnagh, south Dublin.

In 2019 he also pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct over a melee at the Barclays Centre in New York earlier that year.

Felony charges against him where dropped meaning he avoided a jail term and a criminal record.

He is currently before the courts in Dublin on dangerous driving charges arising from an alleged incident in last year.

McGregor was stopped by gardaí on the M50 interchange near Palmerstown on March 22 and arrested.

The world’s highest paid athlete in 2021 was driving his 191 Bentley Continental GT, worth around €170,000, at the time.

McGregor, with an address in Straffan, Co Kildare, was initially charged with two counts of dangerous driving before later being charged with an additional four offences.

They include driving without a licence and insurance, failing to produce both within 10 days of the alleged incident, and careless driving.

Conor McGregor missed his last court appearance because he had the flu and his case is next listed for December.