Irish football legend Paul McGrath has defended comedian PJ Gallagher after a ruthless onslaught of abuse from former UFC champion Conor McGregor yesterday.
Gallagher was noting the anniversary of his admission in a mental health facility a year prior when McGregor decided to take to Twitter and mock his struggles in a series of posts. The messages have all since been deleted, but included the fighter mocking the radio host for "crying in the paper about depression".
And McGrath, a beloved figure in Irish sport for his involvement in the country's national team at two World Cups, waded into the controversy, taking Gallagher's side in the dispute. McGregor hit back by branding the footballer an "English man", a nod to his rough upbringing after being born in London to an Irish mother.
"PJ, take no notice of bullies," McGrath wrote in his first tweet, tagging both Gallagher and McGregor. "You're loved by everyone. Whatever you do, don't let him get the better of ya pal. Stay well, top man." This angered the UFC legend, who responded by saying "Paul, you English man!"
McGrath opted not to get into a slagging match with McGregor, instead giving him advice and calling him his 'good friend'. "Conor, you need to find God," he wrote. "And when you do knock on my door, I will have the kettle on for ya... My good friend."
McGregor hit back by declaring that Gallagher had 'come at him' with a joke on social media, responding: "If someone comes at me I am going to fire back. What don't you get? I didn't start any of this. It was me being bullied originally. Yet you come online to call me a bully. Leave me alone. Bullies the lot of ya's! I have mental health too! #Hypocrites #F***yourgaffandyourkettle."
Fans branded McGregor an "embarrassment" after his initial tweet to Gallagher, who had joked last week that he wasn't offended when the Irishman was called a 'British UFC fighter'. The funny man had responded to UFC commentator Laura Sanko putting McGregor on her list of UK fighters by saying "Normally this kind of thing winds me up but they can have this lad."
Are you disappointed in Conor McGregor's latest Twitter rant? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
This enraged the former two-weight world champion, who responded by mocking Gallagher for his mental health struggles over the past year. "PJ Gallagher, you little sad pox of a thing. Sit up right and smile for a change will you?" McGregor wrote in one shocking message. "You sad little c*** hahahaha wife left you an all and your crying in the paper bout depression, posture like a prawn. Sad b******. I am Ireland. Don't forget it. There's blood on my flag useesoo."
Gallagher had just posted about it being his one-year anniversary of being admitted to St Patrick's Mental Health Services in Dublin. He shared a photo from his last day hosting his Radio Nova show before he was admitted, letting fans know how serious his issues had become.
"Today is one year exactly since I was admitted into St Pats with mental illness," he wrote. "This pic in Radio Nova was the last one taken before I went in. Absolutely torn up inside and scared out of my s**** of what was gonna happen next. Today I’ve never felt better in my life."
In a follow-up message, the comedian added: "I’m far from a professional and I don’t have a lot of advice to give anyone. Also I was very privileged to even get into the hospital at all. All I’ll say is, no matter how bad you are, there is a road back. Don’t take no for an answer."
