‘Stunned and bewildered’: Exact moment Conor McGregor’s mask slipped

Bombshell details about the exact moment Conor McGregor lost the jury in his assault case have been reported in graphic fashion.

Bombshell details about the exact moment Conor McGregor lost the jury in his assault case have been reported in graphic fashion.

The former UFC world champion says he is preparing to appeal the civil court jury’s verdict that he assaulted a woman in a Dublin hotel room in 2018.

Ms Nikita Hand accused the 36-year-old of “brutally raping and battering” her after a Christmas night out.

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The Irish fighter claimed he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, 35, at the Beacon Hotel.

The jury in the civil case against delivered its verdict on Saturday (AEDT).

The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euro ($398,380.86 AUD).

The case has taken another explosive turn with the Irish Independent reporting extraordinary details about how members of the jury were left with “disdain” for McGregor following The Notorious’ behaviour in the witnesses box during the hearing in Dublin High Court’s No. 24 courtroom.

Conor McGregor (R) has broken his silence after damages were awarded to Ms Hand (L).

The news outlet reports one line of questioning resulted in an outburst from the disgraced athlete before the court.

McGregor was asked by barrister John Gordon SC, acting on behalf of Ms Hand, why he did not give his phone to Irish police at the time.

The noticeably aggravated McGregor reportedly raised his voice in response, saying he wanted all the available documentation put before the court, including a statement from a taxi driver that he says showed Ms Hand was “sucking his d**k in the back of the car”.

Judge Alex Owens told McGregor to “restrain your comments” as the defendant lost his temper for the first time since the court proceedings began nearly two weeks previously.

Reporter Catherine Fegan wrote the comment was said “viciously” and said it had been met with “shock” from those sitting on the jury panel.

The Independent reported it was the moment McGregor’s “mask slipped”.

“Seated across two rows on the left hand side of the courtroom, they (the jury) looked on disdainfully, visibly aghast at what had just been said,” Fegan wrote.

McGregor was found in a civil court to have sexually assaulted a woman. Picture: Timothy A. Clary/AFP

“During a case that had many revealing moments, it was perhaps one of the most incisive moments of all.

“During his time on the witness stand, spread over a day an a half, those ­present had been left both stunned and ­bewildered by what McGregor, ‘The Notorious’, had to say.”

Following eight days of evidence and three days listening to closing speeches and the judge’s charge, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before returning with its verdict.

Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin attend his birthday celebration. Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas.

When the verdict was announced McGregor and long-time partner Dee Devlin were seen in tears comforting each other, while Ms Hand was hugged by her legal team as she began crying.

It had been the first time Devlin had attended the court proceedings.

McGregor was also accompanied by his parents, sister and brother-in-law.

McGregor did not comment as he left the courthouse, but has since broken his silence on X, previously known as Twitter.

He wrote: “I will be appealing today’s decision.

“The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages.

“I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed.

“I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you to all my support worldwide.”

McGregor last year said his total earnings as an athlete totalled “about $650 million”.

He sold his stake in whisky brand Proper No. Twelve for $150 million in 2021.

Originally published as ‘Stunned and bewildered’: Exact moment Conor McGregor’s mask slipped