Dublin riots: Conor McGregor investigated by gardai for 'alleged incitement'

Conor McGregor (file photo)

Conor McGregor is now officially part of an investigation by gardai over alleged incitement to hatred around the Dubin riots.

This paper has learned that following an examination of recent social media remarks by the UFC star, McGregor is now part of a wider official criminal probe which was formally alluded to yesterday by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

Commissioner Harris revealed to Dublin City Council’s Joint Policing Committee yesterday afternoon that there are now three live investigations over the horrific events of last Thursday.

They involved one on the stabbing of the girl, one on the riots, and another on social media commentary suspected of inciting hate.

The Irish Daily Mirror understands that McGregor, who posted to X ( formerly Twitter) both before and after the riots last Thursday, is one of the individuals now under investigation as part of that criminal probe.

McGregor, who tweeted that Ireland was “at war” and “you reap what you sow” has not been spoken to by gardai at this juncture, and a spokesperson for him did not return a comment before this article went to print.

Meanwhile, the Mirror has learned that gardai are set to ask the UK police for help in enhancing the thousands of hours of CCTV and other footage of the ugly events last week — in order to speed up the investigation into the violence in the city.

The Commissioner is set to ask UK police, including possibly the Metropolitan Police, for help with the footage in an effort to bring about hundreds of arrests following the destruction in the capital that saw buses and a Luas set on fire, gardai attacked and businesses ransacked and looted.

Commissioner Harris spoke to a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in Dublin City Council when he also denied that gardai were “caught out” by the horror events last week and said public order policing had been increased in the capital since September.

In spite of his comments yesterday the Mirror understands that Garda bosses have put out a call for any officer from across the country to take up overtime and work in Dublin this week.

It is understood garda members are being asked to take up posts in Dublin from today to Friday. It comes as the Commissioner also implied there could be hundreds of arrests stemming from the violence last week.

It came after a horrific incident in which a man randomly stabbed three children and a creche worker – leaving a five year old girl fighting for her life. Last night, that little girl remained in a critical condition in Dublin’s Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

It is understood there remains serious concerns for the child’s condition, while the suspect is in an induced coma with serious head injuries – and has not yet been spoken to by gardai.

Speaking at the JPC yesterday, Commissioner Harris told those present that the riot last Thursday evening was far bigger than the infamous Love Ulster riot in 2006 that saw 190 people arrested – and also denied that his force were unprepared for what happened in the capital last week.

“We are putting resources into this. I’m seeking a way in which we can, through the assistance perhaps of other law enforcement agencies, advance this investigation,” the Commissioner said.

“To give a parallel example, the Love Ulster riot of 2006, that was a full 18 months investigation where 190 individuals were arrested.

“Today we have far more digital evidence across a bigger event where there’s more perpetrators in respect of suspect offences committed.”

Commissioner Harris said a third element of investigation is into individuals who are “using social media platforms to in effect cite hatred and incite violence.”

His comments come as gardai also appealed to the public for any footage of the Dublin riots last Thursday to make it available to them.

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