Accuser testifies Conor McGregor choked her before alleged rape

Nikita Hand, who has accused Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor of rape, testified in court that he choked her three times, leading her to believe she was going to die. Ms. Hand has initiated civil proceedings against Mr. McGregor and a second individual, seeking compensation for an alleged sexual assault that occurred in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Mr. McGregor refutes these allegations, and his legal representatives stated in a previous hearing that Ms. Hand’s actions constitute an attempt at extortion. In 2020, Ireland’s Director of Public Prosecutions opted not to pursue criminal charges against either man, citing insufficient evidence and an improbable chance of conviction. Unlike criminal cases, a civil action in the Republic of Ireland does not grant automatic anonymity to either the complainant or the two men accused during the court proceedings. While providing her testimony on Wednesday, Ms. Hand was observed visibly shaking, prompting the court to adjourn multiple times to allow her to take breaks. The former hair colourist recounted her memories of the alleged assault, which she stated commenced following a Christmas night out with co-workers on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Ms. Hand testified that she had consumed alcohol and admitted to using cocaine when she reached out to Mr. McGregor that evening. She stated that he picked her and a friend up from the salon in a chauffeured vehicle to attend a different party. Ms. Hand proceeded to a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel, accompanied by a group that included Mr. McGregor and his security personnel. She recounted informing Mr. McGregor that she was not present for sexual activity, explaining that she had a boyfriend and was acquainted with his partner. However, she alleged that Mr. McGregor applied a chokehold to her and choked her on three occasions. “He pinned me down on the bed, I held my hands to my chest, he put his body weight on top of me,” Ms. Hand stated. She added that she was unable to breathe and believed her “only defence was to bite him.” “He didn’t like it. So he flipped around and had me by the neck and shoulders,” she testified. Ms. Hand further alleged that she became frozen at this point. “I couldn’t move, I was staring at the bed post thinking about my daughter, thinking I was gonna die,” she recounted, adding, “I thought I’d never see my daughter again.” Following this, she claimed Mr. McGregor released her, and she apologized to him in an effort to “reassure” him, hoping “he wouldn’t hurt me again.” Ms. Hand testified that McGregor remarked: “‘That’s how I felt in the octagon and I had to tap myself out three times’.” She further stated: “I thought it was such a weird thing to say. I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone anything.” She continued, “I just let him do whatever he needed to do, so I could survive, I wasn’t myself anymore.” Subsequently, Ms. Hand alleges that the MMA fighter removed her clothing and raped her. She recounted waking up later in a state of panic, concerned that she had not reached out to her partner. She sent a text message to her partner indicating she was enjoying herself, but Ms. Hand informed the court that she did so because she “didn’t want to worry him.” After McGregor’s departure, Ms. Hand remained in the hotel room with the second defendant, James Lawerence, who resides on Rafters Road in Drimnagh, Dublin. “I remember breaking down then,” she stated. “Things were coming back to me, looking at my arms. I said: ‘You all turned a blind eye to what Conor does to women.'” Ms. Hand alleges that Mr. Lawerence responded: “I cant believe I was in this room when that was happening to you.” She further stated that he attempted to calm her and placed an order for a burger and chips for her. In the period following the alleged assault, Ms. Hand informed a colleague and subsequently her mother about the incident. She sought medical attention at a hospital and started working with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. However, when she reported the assault to the gardaí at a subsequent time, she was informed that Mr. Lawrence asserted he had engaged in sexual activity with her on the same night at the hotel. “I was shocked, I had no memory of that whatsoever,” Ms. Hand testified to the court. She added, “I thought James was looking out for me and he says things like that.” The court was subsequently presented with CCTV footage depicting Mr. McGregor exiting the hotel around 18:00 GMT on Sunday night, while Ms. Hand and Mr. Lawrence departed at 22:17 GMT. In parts of the CCTV footage, Ms. Hand and Mr. Lawrence were seen barefoot, carrying beverages, and appearing to struggle as they attempted to return to their room from the hotel lift. Ms. Hand wept and trembled during the playback of the footage, stating that she had no memory of being in the lift or the carpark. Since the time of the alleged assault, the court was informed that Ms. Hand has been unable to maintain employment due to mental health challenges and is currently receiving disability allowance. The proceedings are ongoing.