McGregor hit by driving ban for doing 154kmh in 100kmh zone
UFC fighter Conor McGregor has been banned from driving for six months and fined €1,000 after he was caught speeding.
McGregor was stopped after driving at 154kmh in a 100kmh zone on the N7 in Co Kildare, and failed to pay the fixed penalty due to an administrative error, Naas District Court heard. The martial arts star (30) apologised in court, saying: “I didn’t know I was going that fast.”
Putting him off the road, Judge Desmond Zaidan noted he had 12 previous motoring convictions and said McGregor was fortunate he was not charged with careless or dangerous driving.
McGregor pleaded guilty to breaking the speed limit at Blackchurch on the N7, Kill, Co Kildare, on October 11, 2017.
He had also been accused of three other driving offences related to not having or producing a licence but these summonses were withdrawn and struck out.
Wearing a blue and grey patterned suit, white shirt and blue tie, McGregor came forward and stood behind his solicitor Graham Kenny when his case was called.
Garda Sgt Michael Keevans said he stopped McGregor at 10.57pm in moderate to light traffic and good weather conditions.
“I found him to be polite and he also apologised for the offence,” Sgt Keevans said.
“I apologise, I didn’t know I was going that fast,” McGregor told the judge.
McGregor “travels quite a lot” and it had been fully intended to pay the notice, Mr Kenny said.
McGregor’s last conviction was in November last year, for speeding. Judge Zaidan said he was “somewhat taken aback” by the number of prior convictions.
“The speed here is at the high end,” Judge Zaidan said.
“Speed kills,” he said. “When speeding goes wrong, the consequences are catastrophic.”
McGregor left the courthouse to cheers from a crowd of onlookers.
He said: “You’ve just gotta drive safer, right,” before being driven away in a black BMW.