UFC STAR ANGRY AT CLAIMS ‘HUNDREDS’ ENTERING IRELAND...BUT FERRY FIRM SAYS THIS IS NOT TRUE

UFC star Conor McGregor became embroiled in a bizarre Twitter spat with Stena Line over claims “hundreds” of passengers were entering Ireland on ferries during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The 31-year-old has been demanding the Irish Government take a tougher stance in the battle against coronavirus, asking for the closure of Irish airports and ferry ports for passengers.

Responding to a story reported in Ireland, he took to Twitter. “The term ‘p***ing against the wind’ comes to mind here, men and women. Without closure of our ports, air and sea (the birthplace of the spread into Ireland) what are we really doing? Lockdown? No. Afraid not,”McGregor fumed.

But Stena Line hit back, saying people were adhering to the rules, and strongly rejected the claims “hundreds” were using ferries on routes, including Holyhead to Dublin.

A reply from the official Stena Line account said:”People are adhering to [government regulations] on essential travel & this has been confirmed by RTE, The Irish Times, & by the Taoiseach at last night’s press conference. It is vital that we stick to the facts”.

The message was signed off by ‘Simon,’ who McGregor replied to.

A peace appeared to have been reached between the parties, with McGregor later tweeting: “Apologies Simon. I didn’t mean it to feel in this way, like I am not in full respect and admiration for those working through this pandemic. I am in complete awe and admiration of them!”

But the row later erupted again when McGregor tweeted a picture of Simon’s personal account after tracking him down.

He wrote: “Well, well, well men and women. I’ve found Simon of Stena Line. British native. Works for RTE Pulse. The rave station. Simon you little egg with a Ronnie.”

Simon took it in good humour as he replied from the Stena Line account, telling McGregor that they were advising people only to travel for “essential” reasons, signing it off as an “egg with a Ronnie”, a reference to his bald head and moustache, known as a ‘Ronnie’ in Dublin slang.

In a statement the company insisted that passenger numbers had not increased over the Easter weekend and remained “extremely low”.