McGregor ordered to carry out anger management as he avoids jail
Fighter’s manager says bus attack was not ‘staged’
MMA star Conor McGregor has avoided jail and a criminal record after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct at a UFC event in New York earlier this year.
He could now be set to return to fighting later this year, with his manager Audi Attar saying McGregor “would like to fight” and talks are resuming with the UFC. McGregor (30) had been charged with a number of offences, including a felony charge of criminal mischief and a misdemeanour charge of assault.
However, at Brooklyn criminal court yesterday, the district attorney stated that a plea deal had been reached which resulted in felony charges against McGregor and his co-accused, fellow MMA fighter Cian Cowley (25), being reduced to disorderly conduct.
Both men have escaped a criminal conviction, as the charge is deemed a violation under New York state law.
As part of the plea deal, McGregor must undergo five days of community service which will be carried out in New York, as well as between one and three anger management classes. Three orders of protection were also issued against McGregor.
The court ruled he cannot come into contact with, either by himself or through a third party, UFC fighters Raymond Borg and Michael Chiesa as well as Jason Leadbetter until July 25, 2020.
Cowley has been ordered to carry out three days’ community service, between one and three anger management classes and obey a protection order.
McGregor was also ordered by Judge Raymond Rodriguez to pay restitution for the damage caused to a bus during the melee at the Barclays Centre.
Both men walked free from court having pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, and agreeing a conditional discharge that they keep the peace for a year.
Speaking outside of the courthouse, McGregor said: “I just want to say thank you to the DA 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’s lawyer Bruce Mafeo said the outcome would have no impact on his client’s immigration status, and the community service would be decided by the office of the district attorney.
“This is the same outcome that would have occurred if he had been a non-celebrity,” Mr Mafeo said. “The DA’s office thought through this very carefully. We appreciate the district attorney’s office treating this as any other case.”
While McGregor did not respond to any questions after his statement, his management team spoke to reporters outside of the Brooklyn courthouse. Mr Attar insisted the incident at the Barclays Centre was not a publicity stunt, but simply a “mistake”.
He also addressed controversy surrounding a picture McGregor took with Russian president Vladimir Putin when he attended the World Cup final in Moscow earlier this month.
“He was going to the World Cup final, I think the way the media spun it out to be some type of a political visit is out of context,” Mr Attar said.