McGregor ordered to do anger-management course
CONOR McGregor has been ordered by a judge to do an anger-management course after agreeing a plea deal with prosecutors over his melee in New York earlier this year.
The MMA fighter was let off with five days of community service but was told to do a programme to control his temper.
The Dubliner pleaded guilty to a minor charge of disorderly conduct, which is classed as a ‘violation’ and leaves him without a criminal record.
McGregor’s lawyer said it would have ‘no impact on his immigration status’, meaning that he is free to mount his lucrative comeback to MMA in the US.
The 30-year-old sports star looked relieved and afterwards punched his fists at the floor as he spoke outside the Brooklyn Supreme Court.
He said: ‘I’m thankful to (prosecutors) and the judge for allowing me to move forward.
‘I want to say to my friends, my family and my fans: thank you for your support’.
McGregor had faced seven years in jail and having his US visa revoked for throwing a metal trolley at a bus containing rival competitors at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn in April.
The plea deal paves the way for a grudge match against Khabib Nurmagomedov, the Russian fighter who inherited McGregor’s champion’s belt and was on the bus at the time of the incident.
McGregor’s lawyer, Bruce Maffeo, said outside the court that it was the ‘same outcome that would have occurred if he was a non-celebrity’.
He said: ‘Mr McGregor is looking forward to completing his community service and moving on with his career’.
McGregor, who calls himself ‘The Notorious’, had initially been accused of 11 counts including nine misdemeanours – among them reckless endangerment, attempted assault and menacing.
Two of the counts were more serious felonies: criminal mischief in the second degree and criminal mischief in the third degree.
Alongside him was his protégé Cian Cowley, 25, an MMA fighter from Hyde Park in Dalkey, Dublin, who had been charged with assault and criminal mischief for his part in the incident.
Cowley pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct and was given a year of probation and three days of community service. He also has to go on an anger management course.
Judge Raymond Rodriguez told McGregor: ‘If you fail to do the community service or the angermanagement course, there is a 15-day jail alternative.’