Former UFC fighter and Conor McGregor bodyguard Charlie Ward faces corruption charges in Dublin, according to Irish news outlets.
According to multiple reports, including Roscommon Herald, Ward and co-defendant Noel Carroll are accused of trying to bribe a policer officer (Garda) for “confidential information.”
Ward, 44, and Carroll, 57, are out on bail and will stand trial. Neither have made pleas yet. Both men appeared in Dublin District Court on Friday.
Court documents say the two men requested compensation from a Garda member in exchange for confidential intel about another person. That incident allegedly took place March 2, 2022. Ward is accused of committing a similar violation on Feb. 28, 2022 and Carroll is accused of also doing it Jan. 26, 2022.
Ward is also accused of an additional offense that he “did aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of this offence”.
Ward, a 10-7 professional MMA fighter, competed twice in the UFC (0-2) and 11 times in Bellator (7-4). However, he was most notably known for his ties to McGregor, whom he befriended and served as a bodyguard for. Ward has not competed in MMA since September 2023.
