In a significant legal development, a woman who accused mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor of “brutally raping and battering” her in a penthouse suite of a Dublin hotel was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) by an Irish civil court jury on Friday.
The jury found in favor of Nikita Hand, who claimed the December 9, 2018 assault left her physically and emotionally scarred.
Hand testified that the attack occurred after a night of partying, leaving her with multiple bruises and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Throughout the emotionally charged trial, she detailed the harrowing experience, sharing how the incident profoundly affected her well-being and life.
During his testimony, McGregor vehemently denied the allegations, insisting that all interactions between himself and Hand had been entirely consensual. He asserted that he never coerced her into anything and accused Hand of fabricating the accusations. McGregor’s lawyer, Remy Farrell, portrayed Hand as a “gold digger” seeking financial gain through false claims.
The incident unfolded after McGregor had attended a Christmas party, where he and Hand had been in contact. Hand told the jury that she had known McGregor socially, as they had grown up in the same area. According to her testimony, McGregor picked her and a friend up in a car, where they shared cocaine, which McGregor admitted during his testimony. They then headed to the Beacon Hotel, where things took a dark turn.
Hand said that upon arriving at the hotel, she made it clear to McGregor that she was not interested in having sex and even informed him that she was menstruating. Despite her objections, McGregor began kissing her, and she repeatedly told him “no.” According to Hand, McGregor then pinned her to a bed, placed her in a chokehold, and overpowered her, making her feel utterly helpless. She described McGregor saying, “Now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times,” referring to his experience in a UFC match.
RELATED: Conor McGregor Hints at Possible Entry Into Politics
The traumatic encounter led Hand to fear for her life. She testified that at one point, McGregor threatened to kill her, making her believe that she might never see her young daughter again. After enduring his assault, Hand recalled apologizing to McGregor, feeling as though she had done something wrong. She testified that she tried to reassure him that she would not tell anyone, as she was scared he might hurt her again. Eventually, she allowed him to proceed, and McGregor had sex with her.
The next day, a paramedic who examined Hand testified that the extent of bruising she had seen on Hand was some of the most intense she had encountered in her career. A doctor who also examined Hand testified to the presence of multiple injuries. Hand told the court that the trauma of the attack rendered her unable to continue working as a hairdresser, which ultimately led to her falling behind on her mortgage and being forced to move out of her house.
Despite her accusations, police investigated the case and decided not to pursue criminal charges against McGregor, citing a lack of sufficient evidence and a low likelihood of securing a conviction.
In response to the civil trial, McGregor expressed his disappointment with the outcome, stating on the social platform X that he intended to appeal the jury’s verdict and downplayed the compensation as a “modest award.” He added that he was dismayed jurors had not seen all of the evidence that prosecutors reviewed when they opted not to pursue criminal charges.
During his testimony, McGregor stated that the sexual encounter had been “athletic and vigorous” but denied it was rough, insisting that Hand never objected or said “no.” He went as far as to call her allegations “full-blown lies” when specifically asked about placing her in a chokehold, questioning why anyone would believe that he would highlight his own shortcomings during such an encounter.
His lawyer, Remy Farrell, sought to appeal to the jury by emphasizing that they needed to put aside any personal biases against the former UFC champion. “You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise,” Farrell said. “I’m not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch.” The defense attempted to undermine Hand’s credibility by highlighting perceived inconsistencies in her story. They pointed to surveillance footage that appeared to show Hand kissing McGregor’s arm and hugging him as they exited the hotel room, with Farrell commenting that she appeared “happy, happy, happy.”
The defense also pointed out that Hand had never mentioned McGregor threatening her life during initial police investigations, questioning the reliability of her testimony. When McGregor was first questioned by police, he described being “beyond petrified” and read a prepared statement while refusing to answer more than 100 follow-up questions based on his lawyer’s advice.
Following six hours of deliberation, the jury, made up of eight women and four men, sided with Hand, awarding her nearly 250,000 Euros in damages. McGregor appeared visibly frustrated as the verdict was read, shaking his head in apparent disbelief. As he left the courtroom, he was swarmed by cameras but declined to comment on the decision.
Hand, on the other hand, stood outside the courthouse, her voice trembling as she delivered a heartfelt statement. She shared her sense of relief and empowerment, stating, “I will never forget what happened to me, but now I can start moving on with my life.” She extended her gratitude to her family, partner, friends, the jury, the judge, and all the supporters who had reached out to her, particularly her young daughter. “She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice,” Hand said. “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.”
The jury, however, did not find in favor of Hand on all counts. They ruled against her in the case she brought against McGregor’s friend, James Lawrence, whom she had accused of also having sex with her without her consent in the same hotel suite.
The outcome of this civil case has reignited discussions around the treatment of sexual assault allegations, particularly those involving high-profile athletes.
For McGregor, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and known for his brash personality both inside and outside of the octagon, the verdict marks another dark chapter in his career, now far from its peak. Despite his status as a retired fighter and his transition to other ventures, the case will likely continue to cast a long shadow over his legacy in the sport.
For Nikita Hand, the verdict is a step toward closure, offering her a sense of vindication after years of battling for her voice to be heard.
As the legal process continues with McGregor’s expected appeal, it remains to be seen how this case will ultimately play out in the higher courts.
But for now, Hand hopes that her courage to stand up against a powerful figure will inspire others to seek justice, no matter the obstacles they face.
