Conor McGregor was found liable in a civil suit for assaulting Nikita Hand in 2018, resulting in an order to pay €248,603.60 in damages, although he denies the allegations and plans to appeal the verdict.
Conor McGregor has been found liable in a civil suit tied to an alleged assault in Dublin, Ireland, back in December 2018. According to RTE, a Dublin High Court jury ruled on Friday that McGregor must pay victim Nikita Hand €248,603.60 (roughly $258,440) in damages. Interestingly, another defendant, James Lawrence, was acquitted of all charges.
The accusations against McGregor and Lawrence involved an alleged sexual assault at a Beacon Hotel penthouse suite in Sandyford, Dublin, on Dec. 9, 2018. Hand testified that McGregor attempted to force her into sexual activity, claiming she told a friend he “raped and battered” her. Her allegations were supported by testimonies from both a physician and a psychologist.
On Nov. 13, McGregor took the stand, denying any wrongdoing. He insisted that any interactions with Hand were consensual but admitted that “sex with me was athletic, physical.” The allegations initially surfaced publicly on Dec. 12, 2018. However, after two years of investigation, no formal charges were filed against McGregor by January 2021.
Despite this, a personal injury lawsuit was launched against him the same month. The trial commenced on Nov. 5, 2024. It’s important to note that Irish law mirrors U.S. law regarding the burden of proof in civil cases—requiring only “a balance of probabilities.”
Following the verdict on Friday, McGregor left the courthouse without engaging with reporters. Meanwhile, Hand expressed gratitude toward her legal team and supporters through a prepared statement.
“I want to show [my daughter] and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself,” Hand declared. “To all victims of sexual assault: speak up. You have a voice.”
Hand also detailed how the incident affected her life profoundly, leaving her with PTSD and unable to work. She alleged McGregor choked her during the assault and that it resulted in severe injuries.
McGregor countered these claims during his testimony by labeling Hand’s statements as lies. Despite this setback, he remains an active UFC member although sidelined since breaking his leg in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier.
In response to the ruling, McGregor tweeted about his intention to appeal—a tweet later deleted but visible in screenshots online. His official statement read: “I will be appealing today’s decision… I am with my family now, focused on my future.”
Lastly, it’s worth noting that Jed Meshew contributed additional insights to this report.