New Criminal Investigation Comes to Light Hours After Conor McGregor Announces Retirement
Mixed martial arts legend Conor McGregor stunned the sports world Monday night when he abruptly announced his retirement on Twitter.
The 30-year-old Irishman, known as much for his gift of gab as for his dangerous left hook, seemed almost dismissive in calling his retirement a “quick announcement.”
“Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’ today,” McGregor said. “I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition.”
Hey guys quick announcement, I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as “Mixed Martial Art” today.
I wish all my old colleagues well going forward in competition.
I now join my former partners on this venture, already in retirement.
Proper Pina Coladas on me fellas!— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 26, 2019
Despite money not likely being a concern for him, McGregor is still very much in his physical prime. That left many to wonder why McGregor so suddenly walked away from the sport.
A breaking New York Times report may have just shed some light on at least one possible reason for McGregor to duck out of the public eye.
According to The Times’ Tariq Panja, McGregor “is under investigation in Ireland after a woman accused him of sexual assault in December.”
Irish Police Investigating Conor McGregor for Sex Assault Accusation – The New York Times https://t.co/dBAWsg38CK
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) March 26, 2019
To be clear, McGregor had not been criminally charged as of Tuesday afternoon, although he does have a rocky past in regard to the law.
McGregor was arrested in January, questioned by police and released pending further investigation, according to Panja’s sources. Panja said that is standard protocol for criminal investigations in Ireland and much of Europe.
The alleged assault occurred at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin. A source told Panja that McGregor is an occasional guest there, where he books the hotel’s sole penthouse suite.
Matching the timeline of the allegations, McGregor’s last visit to the Beacon Hotel reportedly occurred in December.
News outlets in Ireland have only identified an “unnamed sportsman” in this investigation.
“Laws in Ireland restrict the news media from identifying individuals charged with rape unless they are convicted, which has not happened in this case,” Panja wrote. “News outlets reporting the identity of a suspect before a charge is brought often face costly libel and breach of privacy lawsuits in Ireland.”
Neither McGregor nor UFC had commented on the allegations by Tuesday afternoon.
It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for McGregor given these new allegations.
Some have speculated that McGregor might play a role in WWE’s Wrestlemania 35 event April 7, given his interactions with Irish WWE wrestlers Becky Lynch and Finn Balor on social media, as well as the transition to pro wrestling that UFC stars like Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey have made.
Call me when you need Proper back up.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 22, 2018
See you at ‘mania brother
— Finn Bálor forEVERYone (@FinnBalor) March 26, 2019
But if these allegations turn out to be true, McGregor will likely have much more serious concerns than learning how to pull back on a fake punch.
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