Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Conor McGregor is apparently under investigation in Ireland for social media comments he made about the recent riots in Dublin that erupted after five people were stabbed, three of them children.
The riots appeared to unfold after there were rumors that the attacker was a foreign national. The nationality of the suspect has still not been made public by Irish officials.
McGregor did not champion or defend the rioters, but did criticize his country’s immigration policies and safety policies, and demanded change.
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McGregor: ‘There is grave danger among us in Ireland that should never be here in the first place’
McGregor wrote on X, “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,” he added.
Fox News reported, “Police have arrested nearly three dozen people after Thursday night’s rioting when up to 500 people looted shops, set fire to vehicles and threw rocks at crowd control officers equipped with helmets and shields. More than 400 officers, including many in riot gear, were deployed throughout the city center to contain the violence.”
The police and Irish media, as seen above in Garda commissioner Harris’ comments, blamed the the events that unfolded on “the far right wing.”
According to The Times, McGregor’s social media posts are being investigated for possibly running afoul of Ireland’s hate speech laws.
Ireland receiving more immigrants annually than in over 15 years
Fox News reported:
Thursday’s rioting came amid rising tensions over immigration in Ireland that mirror trends in other parts of Europe. Earlier this year, people carrying signs reading “Ireland is full” demonstrated in Dublin, and protesters blockaded a hotel housing immigrants in County Clare on the west coast.
Ireland received more than 141,000 immigrants in the 12 months through April, the highest total since 2007, the latest government statistics show. The influx of migrants drove an 11.7% increase in Ireland’s population over the past 11 years, contributing to a steady increase in housing prices.
Much of Europe has instituted hate speech laws. In the United States, most speech, including what might be called hate speech, is protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.