Life could be in danger, says top Irish crime reporter

CONOR McGregor’s life is potentially in danger after his alleged run-in with Irish mobsters, says a leading crime reporter.

Renowned Irish crime journalist Paul Williams says the UFC megastar is on the verge of being officially warned by police that his safety is at risk.

McGregor, according to unconfirmed UK reports, became embroiled in a Dublin pub fight that saw him hit three men with links to the infamous Kinahan cartel - including the father of gangster Graham ‘The Wig’ Whelan. Internet speculation, completely unconfirmed, went that McGregor’s life may be in danger unless he produced restitution of 900,000 euros ($1.4 million) to Whelan.

Williams, citing his own sources, said concern over McGregor was genuine.

“I have to say about this, and I’m wearing my old, veteran crime reporter hat: Conor McGregor is in a very dangerous place at the moment,” Williams said on Newstalk Breakfast, a radio show he co-hosts.

“He has come into conflict through probably no fault of his own, with a group of very, very dangerous people who are tied up with the Kinahans. These people do not care who Conor McGregor is, what he stands for, how powerful he is, they will drag him down into the cesspit.

“I would say, in the next 48 hours, if he still in the country - and I understand that he may have left the country - but if he is still in the country, I understand from my sources that the Garda will be approaching him to give him a GIM form, which is a Garda Information Message, to tell him that there may be threats to his safety. This is a huge story, and imagine what it would do to our reputation if this national sporting icon is attacked by a bunch of gangsters.”

Williams reiterated his warning later in the show, specifically naming the dangers.

“I just want to make a comment about this. Conor McGregor is potentially in very, very serious danger, I hear that from my sources and from looking at the lay of the land,” Williams said.

“He has ended up crossing swords - accidentally or however - with some very, very heavy people, or some people who are related to some very, very heavy people who could pose a very serious threat to his safety, and potentially his life. And I don’t say that lightly.

“And these people, you have to remember – as I keep saying – they don’t care, they don’t have parameters, they don’t have boundaries, they don’t discriminate between whether you’re an international sporting icon or just a man on the street. They shoot you, they injure you, they do whatever they want to do.

“I think it’s extraordinary. And I think in the next 24-48 hours, I believe that An Garda Síochána will be approaching Conor McGregor and saying to him, ‘By the way, we just want to officially inform you that potentially your safety is at risk’.

“I think it’s an extraordinary state of affairs. And watch this space.”

UFC president Dana White voiced concerns about McGregor yesterday, though at the time he did not believe the story to be true.

“If it’s true, we’ll end up finding out. I can’t chase all these things around. If it’s true, we’ll get it figured out and we’ll go from there,” White said.

“Can’t be a good thing for Conor. But I’m sure it can be worked out, too. Jake LaMotta’s brother beat the s*** out of a wise guy, too, and they figured it out.”

The incident reportedly happened on Sunday night at a Dublin bar called the Black Forge Inn, in McGregor’s old neighbourhood of Crumlin. After allegedly punching three men, including Whelan’s father, McGregor was escorted from the pub and into a car.

Media reports did not name McGregor but the front page of the Irish Daily Star roared: TOP CELEB ‘PUNCHED MOBSTER’S DAD’.