MMA star Conor McGregor was held guilty in a civil rape and sexual assault lawsuit in an Irish court on Friday, according to several sources.
The 36-year-old athlete was accused in a civil action filed in 2021 of “brutally” raping and assaulting a woman called Nikita Hand while she was intoxicated in December 2018, after she invited McGregor to join her and a friend at a workplace holiday party in Dublin.
According to the Associated Press and the Guardian, a civil jury found McGregor guilty for sexually assaulting Hand and sentenced him to pay her over €250,000 in damages, which equates to approximately $257,000 in US terms.
Hand’s lawyers alleged that the assault resulted in bruises and post-traumatic stress disorder. She also accused McGregor’s buddy, James Lawrence, of assaulting her on the night in question, although the Guardian reported that Lawrence did not assault her.
Following the verdict, McGregor avoided reporters and declined to remark as he exited the courthouse.
Hand, meantime, told reporters outside the Dublin courthouse that she was “overwhelmed” by the support she had received during the process, according to the Guardian.
“To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up, you have a voice and keep on fighting for justice,” Hand told the press shortly afterwards.
Hand thanked her daughter on Friday. According to the Associated Press, Hand stated that her daughter has given her “so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare.”
“I want to show [her] and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served,” she said.
After leaving the courts, McGregor posted on X (previously known as Twitter) that he is “disappointed” and plans to appeal the judgment.
“I will be appealing today’s decision,” McGregor wrote. “The judge’s instruction and low award were for assault, not aggravated or exemplary damages. I’m upset that the jury didn’t hear all of the evidence that the DPP evaluated. I am currently with my family, concentrating on my future. Thank you for all of my worldwide support.”
Rachel Morrogh, Chief Executive of Dublin’s Rape Crisis Centre, told the Irish Mirror on Friday that the finding was “very positive” and a “mark of belief in survivors across the country.”
“In the face of great adversity, Nikita Hand held strong to her belief that the truth must be told and acknowledged in court,” Morrogh said in a written statement. “Today’s verdict will be met with relief by many survivors of sexual violence watching and listening closely to the narrative inside and outside the courtroom.”
In addition to Hand’s allegations, McGregor has been accused of sexual assault on other occasions. In 2022, a lady sued McGregor, claiming he attacked her and threatened to drown her when they were celebrating his birthday on a yacht in Ibiza. He has denied the claims, and the case is still pending.
McGregor was accused of sexual assault again in 2023, when a woman said she was “violently” forced to have oral sex in a washroom at the Kaseya Center in Miami following Game 4 of the NBA Finals. However, prosecutors indicated they will not pursue the case because there was “insufficient evidence,” according to ESPN.