Woman Wins Civil Rape Case Against Conor McGregor, Awarded €248,000 In Damages.
A woman who accused Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor of raping her in 2018 has won her civil case for damages. The jury in the High Court in Dublin found that McGregor assaulted Nikita Hand in a hotel in December 2018, awarding her over €248,000 (£206,000) in damages.
The jury deliberated for a day before reaching the verdict, which concluded that McGregor assaulted Ms Hand. In contrast, the jury found that James Lawrence, a second defendant in the case, was not guilty of assaulting her.
In a statement following the verdict, Ms Hand expressed her gratitude for the support she had received throughout the legal process. “I want to show [my daughter] Freya and every other young girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and that justice will be served,” she said, visibly moved by the support she had garnered.
McGregor, accompanied by his partner Dee Devlin and other family members, shook his head as the jury’s decision was read out. He expressed his intention to appeal the verdict in a post on X (formerly Twitter), thanking his global supporters. “I am with my family now, focused on my future,” McGregor added.
The case stemmed from an incident that took place on the night of 8 December 2018, when Ms Hand and her colleague, Danielle Kealy, were invited to a hotel penthouse suite by McGregor and Lawrence following their work Christmas party. Ms Hand gave evidence that she had been heavily intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine when McGregor allegedly pinned her to a bed and assaulted her.
Ms Hand later sought medical attention for extensive bruising and abrasions, and a paramedic who examined her stated she had never seen someone so bruised. The emotional toll of the assault also caused significant personal and financial strain on Ms Hand, with her health deteriorating and her relationship ending after the incident.
McGregor denied the accusations, suggesting the bruising could have occurred from an accident in the hotel bath.
The jury deliberated for over six hours before delivering its verdict. The decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal battles involving high-profile figures and the issue of sexual assault.
