Abdullah Khan has been jailed for 6½ years for setting fire to a pub owned by Conor McGregor and attacking two gardaí with a knife on a Dublin street.
Judge Karen O’Connor, presiding at the three-judge Special Criminal Court, imposed strict post-release conditions requiring Khan (24) to engage with the probation services for four years after he has served his sentence.
The judge noted a report stating that the primary objective of Khan’s probation is to support him to disengage from people involved in radical behaviours and ideologies. His post-release supervision, she said, is deemed necessary to ensure public protection.
Khan, a self-described jihadi, was sentenced for eight separate offences, with each sentence to run concurrently.
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On a charge that he engaged in terrorist activity by setting fire to the Black Forge Inn, Drimnagh Road, Dublin 12, she imposed a sentence of 7½ years, with the final year suspended for four years. The maximum penalty for arson is life imprisonment.
The court imposed sentences of between four and six years for the other offences, including a knife attack that left a garda with two stab wounds to his right arm. The court heard the garda required surgery, is undergoing ongoing therapy and is unsure if he can return to frontline policing.
O’Connor said a report drawn up by Prof Paul Gill, a specialist in terrorism and security studies, indicated that Khan acted on behalf of the Salafi jihadi cause. She said this sect elevates armed struggle to a primary religious duty, with an individual rather than collective obligation to act.
She said all Khan’s offending was premeditated and planned and he had inflicted harm on his garda victim. The fact the victim was a member of An Garda Síochána was a “significant aggravating factor,” she said.
O’Connor said it was a pleasant, sunny evening in Dublin and people were strolling around their city when Khan attacked the garda from behind, giving him no opportunity to defend himself.
Khan made repeated attempts to stab a second garda who was on patrol with the first victim despite repeated warnings to desist.
The judge described the gardaí as “professional and courageous” in disarming Khan and keeping the public safe. She also commended the bravery of a member of the public who took the knife from Khan’s hand.
O’Connor said the court had wanted a psychological or psychiatric report to assess the risk that Khan might reoffend. However, she said he was “steadfast in his refusal to engage” and therefore no risk assessment was available. In imposing the four-year period of post-release supervision, she said Khan must attend all appointments and follow all directions from the probation service.
He will live at an agreed address and make his home available for visits by his probation officer. He cannot travel outside the jurisdiction without prior approval from gardaí and must make no contact with anyone engaged in extremist behaviour.
He is not allowed to possess a knife or other weapons outside his home or incendiary devices or fire accelerants. He cannot engage in any terrorist activity or make public statements or raise funds in support of terrorism.
He also cannot attend rallies or other gatherings “other than those for worship” without prior approval. He must only attend places of worship that have been agreed with the probation service.
The judge said any failure by Khan to abide by the conditions of his probation would result in incarceration.
Khan, with an address in Dublin that cannot be published due to a court order, was charged that on July 25th, 2025, at the Black Forge Inn, he committed arson by pouring petrol on the front door of the pub and lighting it with a match.
He was further charged that on July 29th, 2025, at Capel Street, he assaulted Garda Gary Lynch causing him harm and attempted to assault Garda Patrick Nevin. He was further charged with producing a knife during the same incident and two counts of endangerment.
Khan was also charged with two counts of engaging in terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity on the dates of each offence. He pleaded guilty to all offences.
When the case came before the court in April, Det Insp Gavin Ross told Gerardine Small, prosecuting, that Khan was part of a wider group of like-minded radicals.
In his Garda interviews, Khan said he started listening to people like Islamic State leader Musab al-Zarqawi online at age 18 and his beliefs progressed in his early 20s.
Khan referenced the four core principles of Salafi, including a rejection of man-made laws and the ability to declare those who do not follow the religion to be apostates and legitimate targets. His beliefs removed prohibitions on attacking members of the security forces in any country where the State does not follow a literal interpretation of the Koran, the inspector said.
Det Insp Ross said that when it became more difficult to visit Islamic State, also known as Isis, territory in Iraq and Syria, the leaders of the movement declared that individuals could take responsibility for their own jihad wherever they lived.
During his garda interviews, Khan declared his support for Isis ideology, saying he had a love for them and had pledged his allegiance to the organisation.
When asked for the motivation behind his crimes, Khan said he wanted to send a message to McGregor and others with a “right-wing mindset” not to insult the prophet Muhammed. He said he was angry that the State allowed people to insult the prophet and attacked the garda to show his anger and make his protest known.
He described such insults as “outrageous and unacceptable” and said they made him sad and angry. He said McGregor had helped the “far right” to grow in Ireland so he held him responsible for the insults.
He said he wanted McGregor to know that he was “playing dangerous games”, adding: “When it comes to the prophet, we don’t see it as a matter of freedom of speech.”
When he attacked Lynch, he said he did not expect his victim to die, but he wanted to “injure him to make the point”.
“This was a message to the Irish government that if, under the name of free speech, you insult our prophet, there will be people who are angry.”
