Conor McGregor ordered to pay damages in civil assault case

A woman who accused Conor McGregor of rape has prevailed in her civil claim against him for damages. A jury determined that the Irish mixed martial arts fighter assaulted Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. He has been directed to pay her more than €248,000 (£206,000) in damages. Speaking outside the court on Friday, Ms Hand stated that her story served as “a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be to speak up, you have a voice”. In a post on X on Friday evening, McGregor announced his intention to appeal the verdict and thanked “all my support worldwide.” He further added, “I am with my family now, focused on my future.” The jury at the High Court in Dublin had deliberated for a day before rendering its verdict that McGregor did assault Ms Hand. She had also initiated a case against another man, James Lawrence, 35, of Rafter’s Road, Drimnagh in Dublin. She alleged that he assaulted her by engaging in non-consensual sexual activity at the Beacon Hotel. The jury found that Mr Lawrence did not assault her. Ms Hand informed reporters that she was “overwhelmed and touched” by the support she had received. She added: “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.” Both men had denied the allegations made by the 35-year-old hair colourist, stating they separately had consensual sex with Ms Hand at the hotel almost six years ago. After eight days of evidence and three days dedicated to closing speeches and the judge’s comments, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before delivering its verdict. McGregor shook his head after the jury announced that Ms Hand had won her case against him. He was accompanied by his partner Dee Devlin, his parents, his sister, and his brother-in-law. He sat in the back row of the court, positioned between his partner and his mother Margaret. Ms Hand cried and was embraced by her partner and supporters. The jury had previously heard that on the day of the attack, Ms Hand and her colleague Danielle Kealy went to the hotel’s penthouse suite with McGregor and Mr Lawrence after their work Christmas party. They provided testimony detailing how they had been partying all night from December 8th into the morning of December 9th, consuming significant amounts of alcohol and cocaine. Ms Hand, a mother-of-one, recounted to the court how McGregor had pinned her to a bed before assaulting her. She sustained extensive bruises and abrasions over her body, including on her hands and wrists. A bloodied scratch was present on her breast and tenderness on her neck after she stated she was placed in a “chokehold” by McGregor. He denied causing the bruising, suggesting it could have occurred after she “swan dived” into the bath in the hotel room. The following day, Ms Hand was transported by ambulance to the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, where she was assessed in the sexual assault treatment unit. A paramedic who examined Ms Hand testified in court that she had not encountered “someone so bruised” in a long time. The jury was informed that Ms Hand was compelled to leave her job as a hairdresser and has been unable to work since due to her mental health. Her relationship with her partner ended months after the incident, she had to move out of her home in Drimnagh, and her mortgage was now in arrears. She also stated that she ceased seeing a counsellor because she could no longer afford the sessions. The court heard that she had spent more than €4,000 (£3,326) on general practitioner, pharmacy, and psychotherapy costs.