Conor McGregor apologises after posting picture on Instagram brandishing a gun 

Conor McGregor has apologised for brandishing a gun in a car, claiming he was rehearsing for a role in a forthcoming film.

The UFC featherweight champion posted a picture on Instagram on Thursday of someone in a mask pointing a firearm through the window of a £150,000 BMW with the caption: 'Put the fight game in the bag and step away from the vehicle.'

And after the Irish police said they was investigating the incident, McGregor confirmed it was him holding an airsoft replica gun.

Conor McGregor posted this picture on Instagram wearing a mask and brandishing a gun from his BMW

McGregor took just 13 seconds to defeat Jose Aldo for the featherweight title at UFC 194 in December

He wrote on Instagram: 'Media instigators/Garda Siochana. I apologise for having the air-soft in public. I was simply rehearsing for a potential upcoming film role.

'I understand the more traffic a story can get the more revenue it generates. So I understand and respect that the media must create these stories and these situations even if at times it is at other people's expense.

'We've all got to eat and I eat well, so I will not complain.'

The Irish police had earlier said: 'We are investigating the circumstances under which the photo was taken. Gardai from Crumin are investigating.'

McGregor has posted several videos in recent weeks of himself with what appear to be replica guns.

The 27-year-old has been offered a part in Vin Diesel's film 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage', the sequel to 'xXx' which will also star Samuel L Jackson.

McGregor continued to punch Aldo, as the Brazilian lay motionless on the floor at the MGM Grand

McGregor has been making the most of his time off, posting this picture wishing fans a happy new year