Content warning: This article includes graphic details of physical and sexual assault.
The verdict in the civil case against Conor McGregor was rendered on Friday, finding the UFC fighter civilly liable for the accusation of raping a woman in 2018.
After a two-week civil trial in Dublin, the case concluded on Friday with the jury finding McGregor liable for sexual assault and awarding damages to the plaintiff, Nikita Hand. The jury also determined that co-defendant Justin Lawrence did not assault Hand.
The total damages awarded to Hand were €248,603.60, equivalent to approximately $259,000 U.S. dollars.
McGregor was in court on Friday alongside his partner Dee Devlin and his mother Margaret.
Hand accused McGregor of raping her at a hotel in December 2018, which McGregor denied. Hand stated that she left a party alongside a friend of hers with McGregor and Lawrence and was under the impression they would be heading to another party, but she ended up at Lawrence’s residence. She said she was “pinned down” by McGregor and became terrified and in fear for her life. She acknowledged being under the influence of alcohol and cocaine throughout the night.
During the trial, Lawrence stated he also had sex with Hand, which the plaintiff stated she had no recollection of.
Hand stated she informed her mother of the assault the following day, who had Hand go to Rotunda Hospital. Dr. Daniel Kane testified during the trial and recalled a “multiplicity” of bruises on Hand, who was “shaking and crying.” After performing a sexual assault exam, Dr. Kane said his findings were, “consistent with the outline of the events described.”
Hand also shared photos of her injuries with a friend but later, instructed the friend to delete them. Text messages between the two were shown during the trial.
Dublin Fire Brigades Neil Dempsey and Eithne Scully testified that they observed “visible marks in and around her throat” one day after the incident. Dempsey described the concern of a tampon being lodged inside of Hand, which had to be removed using forceps. McGregor denied that Hand was wearing a tampon during intercourse.
Hand went to the Irish national police, who declined to move forward with a criminal case against McGregor, and led to Hand filing a civil suit against McGregor and Lawrence.
McGregor testified during the trial and admitted to having consensual sex with Hand but denied what he was being accused of, calling Hand “enthusiastic” during their time together. He denied being the source of the bruising on Hand. McGregor’s lawyer Remy Farrell tried to discredit Hand for not telling her boyfriend about the incident immediately and opting to lie and relied on CCTV footage in the hotel and elevator to argue that Hand was an “enthusiastic participant” and called Hand’s account, “a web of lies”.
The jury consisted of eight women and four men and was overseen by Justice Alexander Owens.
McGregor declined to comment when leaving the courthouse while Hand issued a two-minute statement, which can be seen in Paul Healy’s thread:
Hello from the Conor McGregor civil case. There has been a development and everyone’s back in the court room.
Follow thread here and on our Irish Mirror blog in link below.https://t.co/gE6vxvHqQx
— Paul Healy (@Healyhack) November 22, 2024
UPDATE:
Conor McGregor issued the following statement on X stating he would be appealing the verdict:
I will be appealing today’s decision. The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you to all my support worldwide
