Why was Conor McGregor arrested? Alleged dangerous driving incident explained - and what he said on Twitter

UFC champion Conor McGregor was arrested in West Dublin on Tuesday evening for alleged dangerous driving.

The 33-year-old had been driving his Bentley Continental GT, a car which has been valued at £140,000, on the N4 motorway when he was pulled over by police.

His arrest came around the same time as fellow UFC star Jorge Masvidal, who turned himself into Miami police and was charged with aggravated battery and criminal mischief.

This is everything you need to know.

Why was he arrested?

McGregor has been charged by Irish police after he was arrested over alleged dangerous driving on Tuesday (22 March) evening.

A police statement said: “Gardaí arrested a man aged in his 30s in relation to an incident of dangerous driving in the Palmerstown area yesterday evening, Tuesday 22nd March 2022.

“The man was taken to Lucan Garda Station where he was later charged.

“He has been released pending an appearance before Blanchardstown District Court at a later date.”

Gardaí refers to the national police service of the Republic of Ireland.

It has been reported that McGregor’s car, a Bentley Continental GT, was seized on the roadside following his arrest and has since been returned to the fighter.

If McGregor is convicted with the dangerous driving charge, he could face a fine of up to €5,000, six months imprisonment, or both.

What has he said about the incident?

McGregor hasn’t spoken out directly about the alleged dangerous driving but on Twitter he has retweeted a number of tweets posted in his favour.

A video of McGregor being pulled over by police was posted on Twitter and McGregor has retweeted four tweets replying to the video in his defence.

The retweet said: “If this is driving dangerously like yall leeching mofos were saying then arrest me too lol wtf he’s just minding his own damn business driving to the gym!”

Another wrote: “He literally did nothing wrong? Lmfao. Fan boy cops.”

“Speeding my a*s. Gardia set up,” wrote another.

The tweet said: “Are we [really] calling this a crime???”

A spokesperson for McGregor said: “Mr McGregor was driving to the gym when he was stopped by gardaí for alleged road traffic violations.

“He passed the drug and alcohol tests taken at the station.”

Who is Conor McGregor?

McGregor is an Irish professional mixed martial artist (MMA) fighter, and former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight and lightweight double-champion. His fight name is “The Notorious”.

He was born in Crumlin, Dublin, and at 12 began boxing. In 2006, McGregor and his family moved to Lucan in Dublin and, after meeting future UFC fighter Tom Egan, he and McGregor started training MMA together.

McGregor made his MMA debut at 18, in 2007, in an amateur fight against Kieran Campbell. McGregor won via technical knockout in the first round and, following the fight, he turned professional.

In 2013, McGregor signed with the UFC for a multi-fight contract and made his debut in April that year, against Marcus Brimage. McGregor won via a knockout in round one.

Over the course of his fighting career, McGregor has competed in featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions.

Outside of MMA and the UFC, McGregor faced off against Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2017 in his first professional boxing match. The UFC fighter lost to Mayweather via a technical knockout in the 10th round.

McGregor has three children with his fiancée Dee Devlin, whom he has been with since 2008. Their children are Conor Jr, Croía and Rían.

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