Gardai and Dublin Fire Brigade were called to the scene of a suspected arson attack outside the Dublin home of former two-time Olympic boxer and now city councillor Philip Sutcliffe, who was gifted the Conor McGregor-branded truck in 2023
Gardai are probing an incident where a customised truck, gifted by Conor McGregor to his first boxing coach, was torched in a deliberate act of arson.
Gardai and Dublin Fire Brigade were called to the scene of the blaze outside the home of former two-time Olympic boxer and current Dublin city Councillor Philip Sutcliffe – in the early hours of Friday morning. Cllr Sutcliffe, who is an independent politician and McGregor’s initial coach, received the truck – emblazoned with his ‘Forged Irish Stout’ brand, from the UFC fighter back in 2023.
However, in the early hours of Friday morning, the Toyota Hilux, still sporting the fighter’s branding, was set alight outside Mr Sutcliffe’s residence on the Naas Road in Dublin’s Inchicore. When approached about the incident, a woman identifying herself as Cllr Sutcliffe’s “secretary” declined to comment, reports the Irish Mirror.
“No he’s fine, he won’t be speaking on it. Ok?” she said. “I said it’s fine, I won’t be discussing anything with a journalist. If you don’t mind if you’d respect our privacy please we’d appreciate that.”
Gardaí in response to a query from the Irish Mirror confirmed an investigation into the incident had been launched.
“Gardaí are investigating an incident of criminal damage outside a residential property on Naas Road, Dublin 12 in the early hours of Friday 1st May, 2026,” a Garda spokesperson said.
“Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene and extinguished the car on fire. No persons were injured.”
Cllr Sutcliffe sparked controversy when in 2024 he left Independent Ireland following backlash over his backing for McGregor while the fighter faced a civil case brought by rape accuser Nikita Hand.
He was voted in to represent the Ballyfermot-Drimnagh constituency on Dublin City Council.
In 2023 McGregor personally presented Sutcliffe, who coached him at his Crumlin Amateur Boxing Club during his youth, with the ‘Forged Irish Stout’ branded jeep.
The fighter shared footage on his social media at the time showing Sutcliffe receiving the vehicle’s keys from Liam Flynn, manager at his Black Forge Inn pub. “On behalf of Conor McGregor, he wants to give you this for yourself. This is your new Jeep,” Mr Flynn announces in the video.
“Thank you Conor, gentleman. Anything he touches turns to gold,” Sutcliffe replies, while clutching a pint of the fighter’s stout.