Conor McGregor avoids jail for dangerous driving incident as judge calls actions 'appalling'

An Irish judge on Tuesday imposed punishments – but no jail time – on UFC star Conor McGregor for his “appalling” actions on the road in Dublin, according to the Irish Mirror.

In March 2022, McGregor was arrested for dangerous driving by Gardai, the national police in Ireland, after being pulled over in his Bentley Continental GT. McGregor was detained because he ran a red light, sped in and out of traffic and almost caused a collision. Police reportedly drove 160 km/h (99 mph) to catch McGregor.

For his offenses, Blanchardstown District Court Judge David McHugh handed McGregor a two-year driving ban, as well as a five-month sentence, suspended on the condition that McGregor pays a €5,000 ($5,411 USD) fine and keeps peace for two years.

According to the Irish Mirror, McHugh called McGregor’s actions “an appalling series of breaches of the road traffic rules and an appalling episode of dangerous driving.”

McGregor, 36, continues to keep his UFC comeback on hold after withdrawing from his June 29 bout with Michael Chandler because of a broken pinky toe. The fight had been set to headline UFC 303.

It’s unclear if McGregor vs. Chandler will be rebooked before the year ends. McGregor hasn’t competed since a July 2021 injury TKO loss to Dustin Poirier.