Conor McGregor Found Liable in Civil Case for Sexual Assault, Ordered to Pay $257,000

A Dublin civil jury on Friday found mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor liable for sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel penthouse after a night of partying in December 2018.

A civil jury in Ireland on Friday found that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor (right) sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. ZUMAPRESS.com

The jury awarded the woman nearly $257,000 in damages after she accused McGregor of “brutally raping and battering” her, leaving her with severe bruises and post-traumatic stress disorder.

McGregor denied the allegations, testifying that their encounter was consensual and claiming the woman fabricated her account. “It is a full-blown lie among many lies,” McGregor stated, rejecting her claims of being choked and assaulted.

Nikita Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, centre, claimed McGregor sexually assaulted her in a hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. AP

The woman testified emotionally, recounting how McGregor allegedly threatened to kill her during the assault, putting her in a chokehold multiple times. She said McGregor told her, “Now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times,” referencing a UFC fight where he admitted defeat.

Nikita Hand had to take several breaks in her emotional testimony as she said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter, officials said. AP

Conor McGregor and his partner, Dee Devlin, arrive at the High Court in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday, November 22, 2024. AP

The woman said she feared for her life and thought she would never see her daughter again. She apologised to McGregor to reassure him she would not tell anyone, hoping he wouldn’t harm her further.

The Dublin jury awarded the woman nearly $257,000 for her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her on Dec. 9, 2018. AP

Attorney John Gordon, representing the woman, described McGregor as “a devious coward,” accusing him of taking out anger over a lost UFC fight on his client.

Nikita Hand said she feared she would die and never see her daughter again, according to reports. AP

McGregor’s lawyer, Remy Farrell, acknowledged that the jury might dislike the fighter but urged them to look at the case without bias. “You may have an active dislike of him; some of you may even loathe him,” Farrell said.

McGregor (left) testified that he never forced her to do anything and that the woman had fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. ZUMAPRESS.com

McGregor said, “She never said ‘no’ or stopped,” and testified that everything she said was a lie. AP

Although police investigated the woman’s complaint, prosecutors declined to bring criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence for a conviction.

Conor McGregor and his partner, Dee Devlin, arrive at the High Court in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday, November 22, 2024. AP

McGregor testified that their encounter was vigorous but consensual, maintaining that the woman never resisted. The jury’s verdict, however, sided with the woman, marking a significant legal defeat for the UFC star.