Conor McGregor’s mess gets deeper

MMA star Conor McGregor was slapped with a slew of criminal charges for allegedly chucking a hand truck at a bus full of fellow fighters and punching another man in the face, according to a criminal complaint.

He has reportedly posted $US50,000 ($AUD65,000) bail at a New York court after spending the night in jail.

The foul-mouthed 29-year-old was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court for the violent fracas a day before at the Barclays Center before UFC 223, which is set to take place on Sunday (AEST).

He was charged with felony criminal mischief and misdemeanour counts of assault, attempted assault, menacing and reckless endangerment. He faces as much as seven years in prison, if convicted.

McGregor said nothing in court except, “Yes, your honour” when asked whether he understood terms of the orders of protection against him — barring him from contacting fighters Michael Chiesa and Raymond Borg, who were hit with flying glass.

Borg suffered a cornea abrasion to his left eye and bruising to his left cheek, while Chiesa had cuts to his face and hand — causing their bouts on Saturday night at the Barclays to be cancelled.

“McGregor is captured on video picking up a chair and throwing it to a window on a bus and causing several injuries,” said prosecutor Wilfredo Cotto.

McGregor is also accused of slugging another man, Jason Ledbetter, in the head “several times with a closed fist”, court papers said.

An order of protection was also issued against McGregor for Ledbetter.

UFC president Dana White said McGregor was apologetic but not entirely remorseful.

“Most of the things (in the text messages) I would rather not say, and probably can’t say, on TV,” White told ESPN. “He was apologetic about the people that he wasn’t trying to hurt, but he felt like the Khabib thing had to be done.”

The UFC champion’s pal Cian Cowley was also charged with criminal mischief, assault and reckless endangerment for his role in the scuffle.

Cotto said Cowley “throws a metal chair to the front of the window of the bus”.

Supporters, including fellow fighter Dillon Danis, packed the courtroom for the arraignments.

Bail for McGregor was set at $50,000 and $25,000 for Cowley — and both men were bailed out by celebrity bondsman Ira Judelson.

The natives of Ireland were allowed to keep their passports so they work — but they must report to Judelson once a week by phone.

McGregor’s travel must also be pre-approved by Judelson.

“My client self-surrendered and when asked the first time to have his friend surrender, he got his friend,” McGregor’s lawyer Jim Walden told the Brooklyn Criminal Court Justice Consuelo Mallafre Melendez in arguing that the athlete wasn’t a flight risk. “He’s the most visible face on the planet.”

Cowley’s lawyer John Arlia vowed to fight the charges.

“It’s quite suspect about the front window being shattered,” Arlia told the judge. “My client wants to testify in front of the grand jury and would be present at every proceeding.”

McGregor and Cowley — who walked out of court without saying anything — must return to court June 14.

This story originally appeared on the New York Post and was republished with permission.