Conor McGregor breaks silence and vows to appeal after jury finds MMA fighter did assault woman in hotel

The martial arts fighter was accused of ‘brutally raping and battering’ Nikita Hand in December 2018.

Conor McGregor has insisted he will appeal a civil court jury’s verdict that he did assault a woman in a Dublin hotel room.

Nikita Hand accused the Irish mixed martial arts fighter, 36, of “brutally raping and battering” her after a Christmas night out in December 2018, reports The Sun.

The Irish sports star - who arrived in court hand in hand with his partner Dee Devlin - claimed he had consensual sex with Ms Hand at the Beacon Hotel.

The jury in the civil case against Mr McGregor 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).

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

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

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.”

Ms Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, lost her case against another man, James Lawrence, who she accused of assaulting her by allegedly having sex without her consent at the same hotel.

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.

Mr McGregor shook his head after the jury read out that Ms Hand had won her case against him.

Mr McGregor was accompanied by his family, including Dee, his parents, sister and brother-in-law.

He sat in the back row of the court, between his partner and mother, Margaret.

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

Nikita Hand, 35, had accused mixed martial arts fighter McGregor of a brutal rape after a Christmas night out.

The former hair colourist sought civil damages against the 36-year-old sports star over the alleged rape at a Dublin hotel penthouse in December 2018.

McGregor, who took the stand to claim he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, denied all allegations, as does co-defendant James Lawrence.

The jury in the High Court trial was sent out for deliberation at 3pm on Thursday following final remarks from the judge.

Mr Justice Owens told jurors that the onus of proof was on the plaintiff – and the standard of proof is on balance of probabilities.

The judge urged the jury: “Look at all the evidence.”

Judge Owens told jurors if they found that McGregor assaulted Ms Hand, they would have the option of awarding aggravated and punitive damages, as well as a general award of compensation.

After deliberating for around one hour on Thursday, the jury were sent home for the night at 4pm.

The judge had cautioned the jury not to discuss their deliberations with anyone last night, including any loved ones who must be “madly interested in all of this”.

The jury resumed their deliberations just after 10am today.

The jury of eight women and four men was given an issue paper, with a number of questions.

McGregor punches Nate Diaz in their welterweight bout during the UFC 202 event at T-Mobile Arena on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas. Picture: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Key question

Question one asked: “Did Conor McGregor assault Nikita Hand?”

The judge said if they answered no to this question, then that is the end of the case against Mr McGregor.

But if they answered yes, they would then go on to consider damages.

Ms Hand has sued both Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence, alleging the pair “brutally raped and battered” her in a hotel penthouse six years ago.

The mum-of-one, from Drimnagh in Dublin, claimed they both raped her in the Beacon Hotel, Dublin, on December 9, 2018, during a cocaine and alcohol-fuelled afterparty.

Consensual claim

Both denied her allegation, and claimed the sex was consensual.

Before the jury were sent out to begin considering its decision, Justice Owens yesterday finished summarising Mr McGregor’s evidence.

Mr McGregor described Ms Hand’s allegation that he raped her as “lies”.

McGregor told the court the sex was “enthusiastic and athletic”.

The cage fighter was shown photos of bruises on the complainant’s body taken in the days after the alleged assault.

Under cross-examination by Ms Hand’s barrister John Gordon, Mr McGregor denied causing the bruises, saying they “possibly came from her diving into the bath”.

But Mr Gordon drew the jury’s attention to the medical evidence about the severity of Ms Hand’s bruises.

And Ms Hand’s barrister highlighted how a tampon had to be removed from her using forceps in hospital when she attended after the alleged rape.

Mr Gordon said: “The liar here is Mr McGregor who doesn’t have the courage or the decency to own up to what he did.

“He’s not a man, he’s a devious coward and you should treat him for what he is.”

And referring to bruising on Ms Hand’s body, Mr Gordon said: “Let’s put it this way: somebody did it. It happened in the Beacon Hotel. It was Mr McGregor.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Conor McGregor breaks silence and vows to appeal after jury finds MMA fighter did assault woman in hotel