Conor McGregor, the biggest star in MMA history, is once again in the news for something other than his fighting prowess.
According to a report from the New York Times, McGregor is facing yet another allegation of sexual assault in his home country of Ireland within the last 12 months. The Times’ report is significant, as privacy laws in Ireland prevent domestic media from naming those accused of sexual assault or rape crimes unless they are convicted of a crime.
The Times echoes Irish media reports that a woman in her 20s was allegedly assaulted in a vehicle parked outside a Dublin pub last week, though Irish reports were only able to label the alleged assailant as a “well-known Irish sports star.”
As with this reported incident, the Times also reported on the first accusation levied against McGregor, which reportedly took place in December of 2018. According to the Times, the Garda (Irish police) have passed along the findings of that first investigation to the prosecutor’s office for any further action.
Neither of the accusations brought against McGregor has been proved in a court of law, and the fact that investigations are taking place does not imply that the Irishman is guilty of a crime.
In an emailed statement to the Times, a publicist for the former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion wrote, “Conor McGregor is frequently the subject of rumors… He emphatically denies any report accusing him of sexual assault,” while a lawyer for McGregor in Dublin did not respond to the Times’ request for comment.
In an October piece for Whizzered, Jeremy Botter reported that according to sources, “Gardai are now investigating multiple prior allegations made against McGregor, in addition to the December 2018 and latest incidents.”
These allegations are not McGregor’s first brushes with the law.
In July of 2019, McGregor pled guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct stemming from his infamous dolly-throwing incident prior to UFC 223 that resulted in the dissolution of three bouts set for the event, injuries to at least two fighters, and a civil suit brought against McGregor by fellow UFC fighter Michael Chiesa.
In March, McGregor was arrested on charges of strong-armed robbery and criminal mischief after reportedly grabbing and smashing the cell phone of a fan in Miami Beach. The charges, along with a civil suit, were dismissed after the victim reported that he “had been made whole.” Purportedly, there was a settlement reached between the two.
McGregor also faced legal ramifications after allegedly striking an elderly man in a Dublin bar while reportedly promoting his whiskey brand, Proper 12. In October, McGregor was officially brought up on an assault charge, which carries up to a six-month prison sentence and/or €1,500 fine.
Following the publication of apparent video from the incident, McGregor appeared on SportsCenter, an
The first UFC fighter to ever capture two promotional titles simultaneously, McGregor is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of MMA. The Irish lightweight has not fought since an October 2018 loss to undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.
In recent months, McGregor has been active on social media in his campaign for another fight, repeatedly calling out fighters like Dustin Poirier, Frankie Edgar, his rival Nurmagomedov, and others.
