Conor McGregor’s verdict – the Irish UFC star attacked Nikita Hand

Conor McGregor was found guilty by a jury of assaulting Nikita Hand, the woman who accused the Irish UFC star of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

In their verdict on Friday, November 22, the jury found that McGregor attacked Hand.

However, the jury also found in its verdict that James Lawrence, a friend of McGregor’s, whom Hand also accused, did not attack the woman.

Hand will be awarded compensation of €188,603.60 plus €60,000, for a total of €248,603.60. The issue of costs will be decided next week.

The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for a total of six hours and ten minutes.

After leaving the courthouse on Friday evening, McGregor and his fiancée, Dee Devlin, caused a stir in the media. McGregor did not comment on the situation.

BREAKING: Conor McGregor refuses to answer questions as he leaves the High Court in Dublin.

A civil court jury found that in 2018 a mixed martial arts fighter raped a woman in a Dublin hotel.

Warning: This video contains flash photos pic.twitter.com/WRKrSWi6Rk

— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 22, 2024

After the verdict, a tearful Hand told the press that she was “overwhelmed” by the support she had received.

She then thanked her legal team, jury, medical experts, police and family.

She made special mention of her young daughter Freya, saying: “Over the past six years, during this nightmare, she has given me so much strength and courage to continue fighting for justice.

“I want to show Freya and all the other girls and boys that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who that person is, and justice will be served.

“I hope my story will remind all victims of sexual violence that no matter how afraid you are, speak up, you have a voice and continue to fight for justice.”

BREAKING: Nikita Hand speaks in court. pic.twitter.com/H1K4eit8Ug

— Paul Healy (@Healyhack) November 22, 2024

The civil case against McGregor began on November 5 in the High Court in Dublin.

In that case, Hand alleged that McGregor and Lawrence had sex with her without her consent twice on December 9, 2018.

McGregor and Lawrence have denied the allegations against them, calling Hand a “gold digger” and a “fraudster.”

The court heard that on December 9, 2018 – the day after a work party where she drank and used cocaine – Hand contacted McGregor to “keep the party going”.

McGregor, Hand and another woman were taken to the Beacon Hotel in Dublin. While driving, McGregor stopped at Lawrence’s house, where he bought more cocaine, which he shared with the women. Lawrence joined them at Beacon.

The court found that Hand was on her period and wearing a tampon at the time of the incident. Hand stated that she does not have sex while on her period.

Hand’s barrister, John Gordon SC, told the court that McGregor came into the bedroom and wanted her to perform oral sex, but Hand refused. She said he then “pinned her to the bed.”

“She was undoubtedly not the physical equal of Mr. McGregor,” Gordon told the court.

“She’ll tell you she was nervous.” She tried to push him away from her, but she was completely unsuccessful.

Gordon said that during the fight, the watch on her wrist scratched her chest when he pressed it against her. McGregor then turned her over and grabbed her arm before pulling her up by her neck until she couldn’t breathe, Gordon said.

Hand said McGregor told her: “Now you know what it was like in the Octagon. I had to tap out three times.”

Gordon said his client was “absolutely terrified.” He described it as a “brutal, brutal attack” and said a doctor who examined her after the incident found a tampon “stuck in her vagina.”

Hand did not recall anything sexual happening between her and Lawrence until she was told the following February that Lawrence had said they had sex twice.

On the opening day of the civil case, Judge Alexander Owens told the jury: “Essentially the allegation in the claim is that Mr McGregor sexually assaulted Ms Ni Laimhin (hand) and, as a result, raped her on the night of December 2018 and that Mr. Lawrence did the same.

“It’s not a criminal case, it’s a civil suit for assault… if proven… the person is entitled to compensation, which is called punitive damages.”