Gang broke into home of McGregor's rape accuser and stabbed her boyfriend

A gang of balaclava-clad men advanced towards their home. Conor McGregor‘s rape suspect stabbed her boyfriend while her daughters were sleeping in the next room.

The outlines of the horrific raid were revealed at the start of the civil trial in Dublin. Supreme Court this ended with a Judge awards Nikita Hand more than £200,000 in damages.

he claimed UFC The star nicknamed ‘Notorious’ He ‘brutally’ raped her on a hotel rooftop in the city nearly six years ago in December 2018.

His barrister, John Gordon, told Judge Alexander Owens about the break-in on June 14: ‘The plaintiff’s home was invaded by a group of men wearing balaclavas.

‘They forced their way into the plaintiff’s bedroom and were taken out by the plaintiff’s partner, who suffered stab wounds in the process.

‘His daughter was sleeping in the next room.’

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Nikita Hand (centre), also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, leaves the High Court in Dublin following her personal injury case against Conor McGregor. Nikita Hand claims she was raped by McGregor in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdict in the civil case against Conor McGregor. The total compensation awarded to Nikita Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euros. Picture date: Friday, November 22, 2024. PA Photo. See IRISH McGregor's PA story. Photo credit should be: Brian Lawless/PA Wire — Nikita Hand (centre) is supported by her boyfriend (Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and his partner Dee Devlin left the High Court in Dublin following a personal injury lawsuit against him. Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, claims she was raped by McGregor in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdict in the civil case against Conor McGregor. The total compensation awarded to Nikita Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euros. Picture date: Friday, November 22, 2024. PA Photo. See IRISH McGregor's PA story. Photo credit should be: Brian Lawless/PA Wire — Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court in Dublin following the personal injury case against him (Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

Mr Gordon also told the court the men smashed the front room windows before leaving.

‘We’re not laying this at the feet of the defendants or saying they had anything to do with it,’ he added.

‘We argue that this was not a targetless attack but came from supporters of the first named defendant (Mr McGregor).

‘This relates to his claim that he was forced to leave the Drimnagh area.’

The judge asked whether there was any suggestion that McGregor was involved and Mr Gordon replied: ‘No, judge, this is a special damage item.

‘This was related to his state of anxiety and his claim that he had to move out of the Drimnagh area as he is currently doing.’

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and his partner Dee Devlin are appearing before the High Court in Dublin for a personal injury claim against him. Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, claims she was raped by McGregor in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Picture date: Friday, November 22, 2024. PA Photo. See IRISH McGregor's PA story. Photo credit should be: Brian Lawless/PA Wire — McGregor and partner Dee Devlin outside the High Court in Dublin (Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

McGregor’s lawyer, Remy Farrell, said Ms Hand appeared to be making a claim “that has nothing to do with us” and complained it would “invite the jury to speculate”.

The judge ruled that it was ‘completely irrelevant and should not be referred to’.

At the end of the case, Ms. Hand’s lawyer and the judge agreed that there would be no request to move the house.

A Garda spokesman said: ‘Gardaí received reports of an aggravated burglary at a premises on Errigal Road in Drimnagh, Dublin 12, at around 2.20am on Friday 14 June 2024.

‘A man in his 30s was transported to St James’s Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries as a result of this incident.

‘Investigations continue.’

Ms Hand launched a civil case after the director of public prosecutions (DPP) in Ireland decided not to charge her criminally.

Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, speaks to the media outside the Dublin High Court following the personal injury case against Conor McGregor. Nikita Hand claims she was raped by McGregor in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdict in the civil case against Conor McGregor. The total compensation awarded to Nikita Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euros. Picture date: Friday, November 22, 2024. PA Photo. See IRISH McGregor's PA story. Photo credit should be: Brian Lawless/PA Wire — Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, speaks to the media outside the Dublin High Court (Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

The total compensation awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euros.

McGregor, who was accompanied by his family, including his partner Dee Devlin, his parents, his sister and his brother-in-law, shook his head as the verdict was announced.

Following the decision, McGregor said about X: ‘I will appeal today’s decision. The judge’s instructions and the modest award awarded were for assault, not aggravated or exemplary damages.

‘I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence the DPP considered. I am now with my family and focused on my future. Thank you for my worldwide support.’

Speaking later, Ms Hand described having to go through the court process as a ‘nightmare’.

Calls to Rape Crisis Center increased during McGregor trial

According to RTE, calls to the Dublin Rape Crisis Center increased during the McGregor case.

Chief executive Rachel Morrogh said the Irish broadcaster’s calls increased by 17% in the first 10 days of the trial, while contact from first-time callers increased by 50% in the same period.

He said media coverage of the case ‘had a really profound impact on the people who used the centre’s services’.

“This case is directly referenced by many seekers who are offended by the content they read in traditional media and who are also accessing information conveyed through social media,” he said.

‘So it’s a really sad time.’

She thanked her legal team, the judge and jury, gardaí and paramedics as well as the doctors and nurses who provided her treatment and the Rape Crisis Centre.

Ms Hand said she hoped her case would remind victims of assault that they must continue to ‘press forward for justice’.

Visibly shaking, she said: ‘I hope my story reminds you that no matter how scared you are: speak up, you have a voice and keep fighting for justice.

‘I know that this has greatly affected not only my life, but also the lives of my daughter, my family and my friends.

‘This is something I will never forget in my life.’

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