Voice your opinion and the Irish police investigate you. That's the way the British used to run it.

Irish Police Investigating Conor McGregor’s Tweets About Dublin Riots



Conor McGregor is under investigation by Irish police over tweets written after the Dublin riots. AP Photo/John Locher

Irish MMA superstar Conor McGregor is subject to an ongoing investigation by Ireland’s national police service, Garda Síochána over tweets posted in relation to the Dublin riots last week, which erupted after a stabbing incident involving a man of Algerian descent.

The Irish police, led by assistant commissioner Justin Kelly, are now investigating McGregor’s tweets as part of a probe into online hate speech according to the Times. The fighter has been vocal in the immigration debate, particularly following the murder of teacher Ashling Murphy by a Slovakian labourer, demanding a new task force to monitor entrants into Ireland.

Following Thursday’s knife attack, which saw three children and two adults injured, McGregor was vocal in his criticism of the government and the Garda leadership’s response and, particularly, of Garda commissioner Drew Harris.

McGregor also praised the migrant individuals who stepped in to stop the attack.

The police investigation follows a post by Paul Golding, leader of far right group Britain First, which called for McGregor to lead a “freedom march,” saying “Ireland is full” and “Ireland belongs to the Irish.” British right-wing figures like Tommy Robinson have also praised McGregor’s commentary.

Responding to Golding, however, McGregor distanced himself from the riots, condemning the violence and looting while recognising the public’s frustrations. He expressed his commitment to efforts for change in Ireland.

Misuse of his tweet declaring “Ireland, we are at war” has been used by some groups online to fuel tension, despite the fact that it relates to housing issues and predates the riots, posted Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin has criticised his comments as “disgraceful.”

The news comes after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar announced Friday that the government was had two imminent legislative measures aimed at enhancing law enforcement capabilities. The first bill empowers the police to employ facial recognition technology, enabling them to identify individuals involved in the riots using footage from surveillance cameras installed in various locations.

The second proposed law focuses on combating online hate speech, providing law enforcement with enhanced tools for prosecution. Varadkar stressed the urgency of updating legal frameworks to hold accountable those who incite hatred, especially influential social media figures spreading racist content.

However, these legislative developments have been met with some backlash. Critics, including prominent figures like Elon Musk, have raised concerns about the potential infringement on civil liberties.

In a post on X, Musk condemned the proposed laws as a “massive attack on freedom of speech.”