Conor McGregor has been condemned after a series of comments on social media, as rioters took hold of Dublin, after a shocking stabbing at a school earlier in the day.
Riots
The “extraordinary outbreak of violence” had come after “hateful assumptions” were made based on material circulating online in the wake of the stabbings, said the Dublin police service.
It is understood that included false claims that the attacker was a foreign national.
“We could not have anticipated that in response to a terrible crime – the stabbing of school children and their teacher – that this would be the response,” the police said.
Thirty-four arrests were made during rioting following an earlier knife attack in the city centre which left four people injured
Stabbing
Mr Varadkar said that two of the five people injured in the stabbings outside a city centre school were still critically ill.
They include a five-year-old girl and a school care assistant who “used her body as a shield” in a bid to protect children from the attacker.
“Yesterday we experienced two terrible attacks – the first was an attack on innocent children; the second was an attack on our society and the rule of law,” said the taoiseach.
“Each attack brought shame to our society and disgrace to those involved and incredible pain to those who were caught up in the violence.
“As taoiseach I want to say to a nation that is unsettled and afraid – this is not who we are, this is not who we want to be and this is not who we will ever be.”
Far right
Ireland’s police chief Drew Harris blamed the rioting on a “lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far-right ideology.”
Conor McGregor
The MMA fighter wrote: “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 then wrote: “Any update on the wellbeing of those stabbed today? Absolutely horrific scenes all day, my stomach is churning. With no action being taken at all during these ever more frequent events, like literally zero action taken whatsoever, how do we expect an end to this? We need reform. WE NEED ACTION!”
He then wrote: “I don’t care about president higgins statement. Or Varadkars statement. Or Mary Lou’s. Or Justice McEntee’s. Or Garda commissioner’s. Announce our plan of action!! What are we waiting for? Your statements of nothing are absolutely worthless to the solving of this issue. Take Action!! Fix this situation IMMEDIATELY!”
He then shared an image of the riot scene and added: “What would Daniel O’ Connell say I wonder? What would our Irish leaders past say on the situation we face today? God bless Ireland.”
Criticism
“Conor McGregor has been stoking his fanbase of mostly young Irish males for a long time with conspiracies and anti-immigrant bullshit. This is what he tweeted just last night,” wrote one.
Another wrote: “As if you thought Conor McGregor couldn’t get any worse. Can a Brit come and collect him please.”
He was also showered with support for his comments as people agree with his stance.
Related: Watch: Isabel Oakeshott Comments About Disabled People Has Left People Furious
