UFC star Conor McGregor found responsible for attack: Jury orders woman to pay huge sums

A woman who accused mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor of “brutally raping and beating” her on the rooftop of a Dublin hotel was awarded nearly €250,000 ($257,000) by a civil court jury in Ireland on Friday.

The woman, identified as Nikita Hand, claimed the attack on December 9, 2018, left her seriously injured and that she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after a night of partying. McGregor He denied the allegations, stating that their encounters were consensual and that Hand had made up the allegations. His lawyer had labeled him a “gold digger.”

The jury, consisting of eight women and four men, made the following decision after six hours of deliberation: McGregor He is guilty of the attack, although he denies it. The fighter, once one of the dominant figures in the UFC, showed no reaction as the decision was announced. He later vowed to appeal the decision and the “modest award” on social media platform X.

Outside the courthouse, Hand, visibly emotional, thanked his family, friends, jurors and supporters for helping him through this ordeal. He also expressed his gratitude to his daughter, who he said has given him strength in the six years since the attack. “I want to show him and other boys and girls that if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, you can defend yourself and justice will be served,” he said.

Throughout the hearing, Hand’s lawyer argued that McGregor, enraged after a loss in Las Vegas, was taking his frustrations out on Hand. He described McGregor as a “coward” and urged jurors to hold him accountable for his actions.

Hand testified that McGregor sexually assaulted her despite her objections after sharing cocaine with her and a friend. She said she told him “no” repeatedly, but he pinned her down, choked her and threatened to kill her. Hand recalled fearing for her life because she feared she would never see her daughter again. He said he eventually acquiesced to McGregor’s advances out of fear.

A paramedic who examined Hand the next day expressed the seriousness of his injuries, explaining that the bruising was unlike anything he had ever seen before. Medical experts confirmed Hand suffered multiple injuries.

Police investigated the matter, but prosecutors chose not to pursue charges due to lack of evidence. McGregor, who has consistently denied the allegations, claimed their interactions were athletic and vigorous but not violent. He dismissed the woman’s version of events as a “complete lie”.

McGregor’s defense team argued that the jury should put aside any personal animosity towards the fighter and focus on the facts. They also presented security camera footage showing Hand kissing McGregor’s arm and looking “happy” after leaving the hotel room, suggesting the encounter was consensual.

Despite the civil court ruling, McGregor continues to deny the accusations and the case remains a highly contentious legal issue. In a separate case, Hand lost a lawsuit against McGregor’s friend James Lawrence, whom she accused of sexual assault.

(with AP inputs)