BREAKING NEWSConor McGregor LOSES sexual assault case and must pay €250,000 to woman who claims he raped her in hotel, jury decides
A woman who accused Conor McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel six years ago has won her claim against him for damages in a High Court civil case.
A woman who accused Conor McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel six years ago has won her claim against him for damages in a High Court civil case.
Mr McGregor, 36, faced an accusation that he brutally raped and battered Nikita Hand, 35, at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.
After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdicts in the trial this afternoon, and awarded Ms Hand nearly 250,000 euros.
Mr McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable of assaulting Ms Hand.
Mr McGregor previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, at the Beacon Hotel. He denied causing bruising to the plaintiff.
Ms Hand cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters as the verdict was delivered.
She separately lost her lawsuit against Conor McGregors friend, James Lawrence, who she also accused of assaulting her in the Dublin hotel.
Mr McGregor, pictured with his partner Dee Devlin at the High Court in Dublin this evening, faced an accusation that he brutally raped and battered Nikita Hand
Mr McGregor previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand
Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against him for damages
MMA fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin outside the court earlier today
Nikita Hand alleged that McGregor sexually assaulted her on December 9, 2018, and that another man, James Lawrence, did the same, Irelands high court heard over two weeks of evidence.
Ms Hand said that she and a friend made contact with Mr McGregor, who she knew, after a work Christmas party.
She said they were driven by Mr McGregor to a party in a penthouse room of a south Dublin hotel where drugs and alcohol were consumed.
She said Mr McGregor took her a bedroom in the penthouse and sexually assaulted her.
Ms Hands lawyer, John Gordon, said she was on antidepressants, and full of drugs at the time of the alleged assault.
While in the jury room today, the jury were given an issue paper to record their decisions. It asked two questions for them to provide a verdict on.
The first states: did Mr McGregor assault Ms Hand?
The second is did Mr Lawrence assault Ms Hand?.
They had to answer yes or no. An answer of yes to either moved the jury to deciding what damages to award Ms Hand.
The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euro (£206,621.91).
Moments before the jury returned to the courtroom to deliver the verdict, Justice Alexander Owens warned those in the court to remain calm.
Nikita Hand fought back tears and was comforted by her partner as she waited for the jury to return.
Conor McGregor could be heard breathing loudly and heavily as the judge made his way into the courtroom.
I understand the jury has a verdict, Justice Owens said.
I want everyone to remain calm. I want no scenes. Anyone who makes a scene will find themselves in jail.
He also asked that some people standing in the back of the courtroom to move to the public gallery.
Ahead of the verdict, Justice Owens spent some time on Thursday summing up evidence heard over the two weeks, from witnesses including Ms Hand, who has no automatic right to anonymity, Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence.
Evidence has also been heard from police, paramedics, psychiatrists, an actuary, colleagues of Ms Hand as well as a former principal forensic medical officer.
Justice Owens reminded them of a number of legal principles, including the standard of proof in a civil case which is on the balance of probabilities and that the onus of proof rests on the plaintiff.
He also reminded the jury that if they reached a verdict to award damages, there were several types of damages to consider including general, which covers pain and suffering to date and into the future, as well as distress and recognition of vindication.
Another type of damage includes aggravated damage which is payment to recognition of offences that shocked the plaintiff.
Exemplary damages are punitive damages which are to punish the defendant.
He said it should be an offence that is really serious, and that they could regard rape as really serious.
Mr Lawrence, co-defendant of Conor McGregor, outside the High Court in Dublin on Thursday
Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, November 22, 2024
Ms Hand (outside court today) accused Mr McGregor of rape and another man of assault
Mr McGregor, accompanied by his family to the High Court in Dublin earlier on Friday
Justice Owens also said that someone attempting to cover up matters, or making statements that are patently untrue are also serious.
Justice Owens told the jury to keep their feet firmly on the ground and to use their common sense.
He told the jury that if they reach the stage of awarding damages, and when assessing what to give for loss of earnings, to deduct 15 per cent from their figure.
He told them this was called a deduction for contingencies as we live in an uncertain world, and the courts say these things have to be taken into account.
Justice Owens warned the jury not to talk to anyone about their deliberations, including their loved ones who he said may be interested in the case.
He told the jury to look at all the evidence.
The outcome of a civil case depends on the balance of probabilities, which is a lower standard of proof than the standard used in criminal cases.
In civil cases, a defendant is found liable or not liable.
