MMA fighter Conor McGregor assaulted woman at Dublin hotel, jury finds in civil trial

A jury in a civil trial at Ireland’s High Court has determined that Conor McGregor, the Irish mixed martial arts fighter, assaulted a woman who had alleged that he raped her at a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

McGregor has been instructed to compensate Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ní Laimhín, with close to €250,000 (£210,000) in damages.

Hand's attorneys have claimed that McGregor, 36, "savagely assaulted and raped" her following her invitation for him to accompany her and a friend to a holiday work gathering.

Hand also claimed that another party attendee, James Lawrence, sexually assaulted her. However, the jury determined that Lawrence did not assault Hand.

After the verdict, Hand, 35, spoke to reporters outside the courtroom and expressed that she felt "overwhelmed" by the support she had received. She extended her gratitude to her family and a staff member from a rape crisis center who had been by her side during "this entire journey," including the two-week trial.

Hand expressed her desire to demonstrate to Freya and all other children that they can defend themselves in any situation, regardless of who is involved, and that justice will prevail.

“To everyone who has experienced sexual assault, I hope my experience serves as a reminder that even if you feel scared, it’s important to find your voice and speak out. Keep pushing for justice.”

She expressed her desire to start fresh and rebuild her life now that the six-year struggle had come to an end.

Hand, who was raised in the same part of Dublin as McGregor, filed the civil lawsuit mainly to clear her name, as her lawyer explained in court. This action followed the decision of the director of public prosecutions to not move forward with a criminal case due to a lack of sufficient evidence for a potential conviction.

McGregor hunched over, covering his face with his hands while shaking his head as the jury announced its decision, granting Hand compensation of €248,603.

He later announced his intention to challenge the ruling, posting on X: “The judge's direction and the small sum awarded was for assault, not for any additional punitive damages. I'm frustrated that the jury wasn’t presented with all the evidence considered by the [director of public prosecutions]. Right now, I'm spending time with my family and looking ahead to what’s next.”

The atmosphere in the courtroom was charged when McGregor came in, accompanied by a substantial group of supporters and family members. Among them were his partner, Dee Devlin, his mother, Margaret McGregor, and sister Aoife McGregor. His boxing coach, Philip Sutcliffe, positioned himself at the back, just a short distance from Hand.

McGregor refuted the claims, asserting that his encounter with Hand was entirely consensual. He also rejected the notion that he inflicted any bruises on her. In court, he characterized Hand's allegations as a collection of falsehoods bordering on fantasy.

Hand informed the court that she and a friend reached out to McGregor, whom she was familiar with, following a Christmas party for work. She recounted how McGregor drove them to a gathering in a penthouse suite at a hotel in south Dublin, where they consumed drugs and alcohol. According to her, McGregor then led her to a bedroom within the penthouse and sexually assaulted her. Hand’s attorney, John Gordon, mentioned that she was on antidepressants and was “under the influence of drugs” during the time of the alleged incident.

The ruling is expected to reignite discussions surrounding the challenges of prosecuting rape cases. This week, Hand's lawyer informed the court that no matter the result, she would always be a woman who stands out due to her bravery in confronting the fighter.

Hand expressed to the jury that she felt "completely heartbroken and betrayed" when the director of public prosecutions informed her that they would not be moving forward with her case.

During the two-week trial, the jury listened to distressing testimonies about the event, which included a 45-minute tape of a conversation where a visibly shaken Hand recounted the alleged rape to her then-boyfriend.

The court listened to Hand's testimony where she described McGregor holding her down on the bed with his full body weight. She also alleged that he had placed her in a headlock and pretended to choke her three times during a frightening incident.