Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been found guilty of raping a woman in 2018 and has been ordered to pay €248,603 (approximately R5.2 million) in damages following a civil trial at Dublin’s High Court.
Story Summary:
- Conor McGregor was found guilty of raping Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018 and ordered to pay €248,603 in damages.
- Hand’s evidence included medical documentation of severe injuries, while McGregor claimed the encounter was consensual.
- McGregor has announced plans to appeal the decision.
Conor McGregor found guilty: Here’s what we know
The jury’s unanimous decision on Friday came after six hours of deliberation.
The complainant, Nikita Hand, accused McGregor of assaulting her in a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in South Dublin on 9 December 2018.
Hand, a Grade R teacher and mother of one, claimed the attack left her with severe physical injuries and ongoing psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
Speaking after the verdict, Hand expressed relief, stating:
“Now that justice has been served, I can try to move forward with my life and focus on my family and future.”
McGregor, who denied all allegations and claimed the encounter was consensual, has indicated his intent to appeal the ruling, per Sky News.
Details from the trial
Hand’s legal team presented medical evidence from the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit at the Rotunda Hospital, which documented multiple injuries, classified as “moderate to severe.”
This included bruising consistent with assault and the use of forceps to remove a tampon that was described as being “wedged.”
Paramedics testified that Hand’s bruising was among the most severe they had seen.
Her lawyers argued this corroborated her account of violent sexual assault.
McGregor testified that he and Hand engaged in consensual, “athletic” intercourse and denied all claims of violence.
He alleged that the bruising and injuries could have resulted from unrelated incidents during what he described as Hand’s “three-day bender.”
McGregor suggested Hand fabricated the allegations, pointing to discrepancies in her timeline and behaviour captured on CCTV footage.
His legal team highlighted footage showing Hand using her phone and appearing calm hours after the alleged incident.
The jury was instructed by Justice Owens to focus on evidence and avoid biases or assumptions.
The damages awarded to Hand were calculated to reflect her pain, suffering, and the gravity of the assault.
The court also considered McGregor’s lack of apology and his public statements discrediting Hand’s character.
