Content warning: This story involves the mention and description of sexual assault.
The first day of former UFC champion Conor McGregor’s civil assault case in Dublin, Ireland has seen a plaintiff go public with disturbing allegations of rape.
The opening day of the jury trial has seen McGregor be accused of luring a severely intoxicated woman to the residence of co-defendant James Lawrence before violently sexually assaulting her and leaving her with “multiple” bruises, per an in-person report from Paul Healy of The Irish Mirror.
In his opening statement on Tuesday, lawyer John Gordon SC described an evening where a hairdresser from Dublin – who POST Wrestling has decided to not identify by name – came into contact with McGregor after already having “lots to drink” and consuming cocaine at a Christmas party.
Along with a friend, the plaintiff allegedly entered a vehicle with McGregor at some point in the evening. Per the lawyer, it was assumed that they were heading to another party. Instead, the group allegedly arrived at the property of co-defendant Lawrence.
It was at Lawrence’s residence where McGregor allegedly “pinned down” the plaintiff, with her lawyer claiming she was “completely terrified” while suffering bruising and scratches on her body.
The plaintiff allegedly had sex with McGregor and then also with Lawrence twice, with the lawyer mentioning “she has no recollection of such an event ever happening.”
The plaintiff’s mother remembers sending her daughter to the hospital the next day, describing her as “An absolute wreck. Constantly weeping, shivering, in pain, and unable to get comfortable.”
The first day of court proceedings saw key witness Dr. Daniel Kane, a gynecologist at Rotunda Hospital, testify about his experience with the plaintiff the afternoon following the alleged incident. He remembered a “multiplicity” of bruises on the plaintiff and described her as shaking and crying throughout.
Dr. Kane, who administered a sexual assault examination kit, noticed “multiple body injuries” on the plaintiff and said his findings were “consistent with the outline of events as described” by the victim. He also mentioned the victim struggling to remember where she had been the previous evening, although she mentioned a fear that she would be killed due to the force applied to her neck while at a house.
The first day of court wrapped up after the victim appeared on the stand, further testifying about many of the points outlined during her lawyer’s opening statement. She recalled telling McGregor that she didn’t feel comfortable when he allegedly attempted to make advances on her and claimed that he “wasn’t taking no for an answer.”
The court has mentioned an expectation that the case will last two weeks in total.
Civil charges were initially levied against McGregor in 2021 after Irish prosecutors investigated McGregor for a year and decided to not proceed with a criminal case.
While details about the lawsuit hadn’t been publicly revealed through the courts until this week, a statement of claim regarding the case was reported by The New York Times in early 2021. At the time, a spokesperson for McGregor “categorically rejected” the claims and remained “confident that justice will prevail.”
