DUBLIN, Ireland – Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor has been ordered to pay €248,603 (£206,000) in damages after a Dublin High Court jury found him liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in 2018.
The verdict, delivered on Friday, marks a significant development in the high-profile case, which McGregor has vowed to appeal.
Hand, a mother of one, accused McGregor of assaulting her in a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin in December 2018.
Speaking outside the courthouse after the decision, she described the legal battle as a “nightmare” that profoundly affected her life and the lives of her loved ones.
“Now that justice has been served, I can try to move on and look forward to the future with my family, friends, and daughter,” Hand said.
Addressing other survivors of sexual assault, she added, “No matter how afraid you might be, speak up. You have a voice, and justice can be served.”
Hand told the court that McGregor pinned her to a bed, choked her three times, and “brutally raped and battered” her, leaving her with severe injuries, including bruising, a bloodied scratch, and tenderness around her neck.
McGregor denied the accusations, claiming their sexual encounter was consensual.
The defense challenged Hand’s account, suggesting her actions were motivated by an attempt to extort McGregor.
Lawyers cited CCTV footage of Hand arriving at and leaving the hotel with McGregor and James Lawrence, another man she accused of assault.
While the jury found McGregor liable, they dismissed Hand’s claim against Lawrence.
McGregor, 36, left the courtroom without comment but later issued a statement expressing disappointment with the outcome.
“I have instructed my legal team to appeal this decision,” he said. “I am with my family, focused on my future.”
The verdict marks another legal and reputational blow for the former UFC champion, who has faced a series of controversies in recent years.
Hand’s victory in the civil case is being hailed as a significant moment for survivors of sexual violence.
“I hope my story serves as a reminder that no one is untouchable, and justice can prevail,” she said.
The verdict, delivered on Friday, marks a significant development in the high-profile case, which McGregor has vowed to appeal.
Hand, a mother of one, accused McGregor of assaulting her in a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin in December 2018.
Speaking outside the courthouse after the decision, she described the legal battle as a “nightmare” that profoundly affected her life and the lives of her loved ones.
“Now that justice has been served, I can try to move on and look forward to the future with my family, friends, and daughter,” Hand said.
Addressing other survivors of sexual assault, she added, “No matter how afraid you might be, speak up. You have a voice, and justice can be served.”
Hand told the court that McGregor pinned her to a bed, choked her three times, and “brutally raped and battered” her, leaving her with severe injuries, including bruising, a bloodied scratch, and tenderness around her neck.
McGregor denied the accusations, claiming their sexual encounter was consensual.
The defense challenged Hand’s account, suggesting her actions were motivated by an attempt to extort McGregor.
Lawyers cited CCTV footage of Hand arriving at and leaving the hotel with McGregor and James Lawrence, another man she accused of assault.
While the jury found McGregor liable, they dismissed Hand’s claim against Lawrence.
McGregor, 36, left the courtroom without comment but later issued a statement expressing disappointment with the outcome.
“I have instructed my legal team to appeal this decision,” he said. “I am with my family, focused on my future.”
The verdict marks another legal and reputational blow for the former UFC champion, who has faced a series of controversies in recent years.
Hand’s victory in the civil case is being hailed as a significant moment for survivors of sexual violence.
“I hope my story serves as a reminder that no one is untouchable, and justice can prevail,” she said.
