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Irish MMA fighter vows free meals for life to ‘hero’ men who thwarted knife attack in Dublin

November 25, 2023 | | Print Article

Sacrifice was duly rewarded by a “Notorious” Irish MMA fighter handing out perks for responses to a stabbing attack as the “Ireland First” movement coalesced.

A return to the octagon might not be the only future plan for former UFC champion Conor McGregor who, in the meantime, saw fit to honor those who acted to confront a knife-wielding attacker in Dublin, Ireland Thursday.

With three children included among the five victims, a delivery driver’s willingness to do “what anyone would do” to prevent further tragedy earned him meals for life at The Black Forge courtesy of the MMA fighter.

In the wake of the attack in Parnell Square East, Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio was quoted as saying, “I did what anyone would do. People were there but they couldn’t step in because he was armed, but I knew I could use my helmet as a weapon.”

To that, and the man’s actions, McGregor responded on X, “The working man is the real hero! Bravo our Brazilian brother in Ireland, working hard, earning a living, and contributing to Irish society! This is it! We love, appreciate and respect you greatly! Thank you so much Caio Benicio! You are forever free to eat at my establishment, @blackforgeinn #Hero…”

Later, McGregor would go on to make the same offer to a local dad who was credited with wrestling the knife away from the suspect, “Irish hero, Warren Donohoe! On the house in my establishment for life. Thank you Warren and bravo.”

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In his own interview with the Press Association, Benicio explained, “I slowed down my motorcycle to see what’s going on. I realised some man and woman and a little girl involved.”

He went on to detail how he “acted on instinct” and used “all of my power” to go after the suspect, and later expressed, “I wish the family all the best. I pray for her to survive. I’m a parent myself, I have two kids and I know how hard it is. I saw [parents] come to the school, desperate to see how their kids are, something you can’t even imagine, the pain. I wish them all the strength possible to carry on.”

As previously reported, the attack was met with unrest in Ireland as riots broke out when it became apparent that the alleged suspect was said to be an immigrant. As a non-native Irishman, Benicio spoke to those sentiments as well when he said, “I’m here for about 20 years now, I don’t know politics here deeply to have an opinion about it. What I can say is I know the protest is against immigrants and for me it doesn’t make sense because I’m an immigrant myself and I was the one who helped out. For me it doesn’t make sense.”

However, the feeling was not so mysterious to McGregor who decried his nation’s leadership, speaking to other tragedies like the Jan. 2022 murder of a 23-year-old school teacher, amid a rising populist movement that teased a possible political future for the fighter.

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“I do not condone last nights riots. I do not condone any attacks on our first responders in their line of duty. I do not condone looting and the damaging of shops. Last nights scenes achieved nothing toward fixing the issues we face,” he made clear in a post on X. “I do understand frustrations however, and I do understand a move must be made to ensure the change we need is ushered in. And fast!”

“I am in the process of arranging. Believe me I am way more tactical and I have backing. There will be change in Ireland, mark my words,” continued McGregor. “The change needed. In the last month, innocent children stabbed leaving school. Ashling Murphy murdered. Two Sligo men decapitated. This is NOT Ireland’s future! If they do not act soon with their plan of action to ensure Ireland’s safety, I will.”

The fighter’s stance earned considerable backing on social media as many seemed prepared to support him should he choose to run for office in 2025.

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Kevin Haggerty
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