EXCLUSIVEWhats next for Conor McGregor? Criminal investigation into rape claims against UFC champion could be reopened after jury finds him liable for sexual assault, top barrister says
The criminal investigation into rape claims against Conor McGregor could be reopened after a jury found him liable for sexual assault, a top barrister has claimed.
The criminal investigation into rape claims against Conor McGregor could be reopened after a jury found him liable for sexual assault, a top barrister has claimed.
McGregor, 36, faced an accusation that he brutally raped and battered Ms Hand, 35, at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.
The MMA fighter 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.
But yesterday she was awarded nearly €250,000 in damages at the High Court after claiming that she was raped by MMA fighter Conor McGregor.
On the verge of tears and struggling to keep her composure, she said outside the Four Courts in Dublin that she felt vindicated after the jury agreed McGregor had assaulted her.
Now, there are questions on whether the DPP should re-examine the criminal file against McGregor, while womens groups have urged that he should finally no longer be seen as a role model for any man.
Barrister Timothy Bracken told the Irish Daily Mail that the DPP can reexamine the case at any time.
There is no time limit in this country when it comes to criminal matters, which means the DPP can return to this case even 50 or 60 years down the line.
Conor McGregor and his partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court in Dublin this afternoon
Nikita Hand speaking to the media outside the court upon hearing the verdict in her civil case. Pictured: With boyfriend, right
McGregor has since vowed to appeal the decision - saying he was disappointed and focused on my future. Pictured: Preparing to fight Dustin Poirier in 2021
I presume someone will examine the evidence in this civil trial and see if any new evidence comes to light to warrant a criminal case.
Civil actions can lead to criminal prosecutions, this is not unheard of. But whats important to note is that the verdict today was brought on by the balance of probability, whereas criminal matters need to be ruled beyond a reasonable doubt. The differences between the two are huge, he said.
Green Party TD for Dublin Central Neasa Hourigan said: We do have quite low rates of prosecution in this area, it would seem that there would be a huge amount of evidence available and calls into question why it did not proceed.
Asked if she believed the DPP should reopen the criminal investigation, deputy Hourigan said: Perhaps, yes. I think for victims of sexual crime it means there is a civil avenue they can take but it would imply that our current system does not provide access to justice fully, but it is a victory for her and Im very happy for her today.
Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said: Nikita Hand showed incredible bravery in pursuing this case through every avenue available to her and the result today is a testimony to her strength and determination. There are certainly questions now for the DPP as to why they did not take this case.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said her thoughts are currently with Nikita.
Her bravery in taking this case must be acknowledged.
In a year of so many high profile cases of violence against women, we must reform the courts and our culture to ensure better protections for victims and survivors, she said.
Ms Hand joined family and supporters and said she felt vindicated by the outcome
Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, November 22, 2024
During the first ten days of the McGregor trial, calls to the National Rape Crisis Helpline increased by almost 20%, with first-time callers increasing by 50% compared to the same period last year.
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Rachel Morrogh said: It will take some time to analyse all the issues that have arisen for survivors as a result of this case.
It said it was exceptionally proud to stand with the courageous and determined Nikita hand in her pursuit of justice.
This is a very positive verdict and a mark of belief in survivors around the country, Ms Morrogh added.
The court has acknowledged the wrongs done to this brave woman and the acts of violence against her.
Ms Morrogh said: Thankfully the jury found in favour of Nikita Hand. But this case and the public commentary around it has also thrown up questions about how some of Irish society views victims of sexual violence.
Womens Aid stated it hopes yesterdays ruling will discourage young men from viewing Conor McGregor and others like him as positive role models.
Views of masculinity including dominance, power and attitudes to women, are being influenced disproportionally by men like Conor McGregor, Andrew Tate and many others, online.
Ms Hand leaves the High Court in Dublin after the verdicts were delivered on Friday. Pictured: With boyfriend, right
These are not positive role models for young men & boys and this case, and the increasing levels of violence against women in our society, offer opportunities for older men to have conversations with the younger men in their lives to offer more positive way of being in the world, Womens Aid stated.
It comes after it was revealed masked men broke into Ms Hands home, smashed her windows and stabbed her boyfriend while her daughter was asleep next door.
Believed to be supporters of the MMA star, the horrific rampage has emerged since a jury returned with their verdicts in the trial this afternoon.
The story was first told at the outset of the trial, in the context of a claim she wanted to make, for the cost of moving away from Drimnagh in Dublin.
With no jury present, her counsel, John Gordon, told Judge Alexander Owens that the incident had happened on June 14 this year.
The plaintiffs home was invaded by a group of men wearing balaclavas, he said.
They broke into the plaintiffs bedroom, and were driven out by the plaintiffs partner, who suffered a stab wound in the process. Her daughter was in the next room, sleeping.
He said the men left, having broken windows in the front room.
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
We are not laying that at the feet of the defendants, or saying they have anything to do with that, he continued.
We do make the claim that it was not an untargeted attack, [it] arose from supporters of the first named defendant [Mr McGregor].
It is related to the claim that she had to move out of the Drimnagh area.
Judge Owens asked: You are not making the claim or going to tender evidence that Mr McGregor had anything to do with it?
No, judge, it is an item of special damage, Mr Gordon replied.
It relates to her state of anxiety and her claim that she had to move from the Drimnagh area, as she now has done.
The court heard she had sought relocation costs of €750,000.
Conor McGregors barrister, Remy Farrell, said it seemed Ms Hand was introducing a claim which is nothing to do with us.
Nikita Hand (centre), who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, leaves the High Court in Dublin after the personal injury case against Conor McGregor
It is extraordinary that there would be an attempt to smuggle something like that into the case…to increase the special damages, he said.
He complained that it would be an invitation to the jury to speculate.
Judge Owens ruled: I consider this to be completely and utterly irrelevant and shouldnt be referred to.
Evidence was heard during the case from a property expert, who said that houses of a similar three-bedroom size to Ms Hands Drimnagh house could cost €200,000 more in neighbouring areas in Dublin such as Cabinteely.
Her GP also mentioned her anxiety about living in Drimnagh, and told the court she had recently moved further away from her childhood practice.
However, at the close of the case, it was agreed by her counsel and Judge Owens that a claim would not be made for the house move.
The house break-in was confirmed by the Garda press office at the time, but no link was made to McGregor.
A Garda spokeswoman said: Gardaí received report of an incident of aggravated burglary that occurred at a premises in Drimnagh, Dublin 12 at approximately 2.20am this morning, Friday, June 14.
Ms Hand was awarded 248,603.60 euro after the jury decided McGregor was liable
One man in his 30s has been conveyed to St Jamess Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries sustained as a result of this incident.
McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable of assaulting Ms Hand.
The MMA fighter 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.
McGregor has since vowed to appeal the decision - saying he was disappointed and focused on my future.
Breaking his silence this afternoon, McGregor said: I will be appealing todays decision. The judges 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 cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters as the verdict was delivered. Outside the court, she described the last two weeks as a nightmare but said she felt vindicated.
She separately lost her lawsuit against McGregors friend, James Lawrence, who she also accused of assaulting her in the Dublin hotel.
MMA fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin outside the court earlier today
McGregor has since vowed to appeal the decision - saying he was disappointed and focused on my future
The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euro (£206,621.91).
The jury awarded her €60,000 in general damages against McGregor, plus just over €188,000 for lost earnings as a result of the assault, which left her unable to continue working as a hair colourist due to post traumatic stress.
McGregors fiancée, Dee Devlin, had accompanied him to the High Court yesterday in a public show of support.
He was also joined by his mother, Margaret McGregor, his sister, Aoife McGregor and his brother-in-law, Terry Kavanagh, who is married to his sister, Erin.
It was the first time Ms Devlin and the McGregor women had been in court, and they made a glamourous group, sporting a number of designer labels between them, including Christian Dior and Chanel.
Ms Devlin held her fiancés hand, as the jury filed into court to deliver their verdict. His mother rubbed his arm, as he drew in a series of deep breaths. Having remained impassive throughout much of the evidence, he appeared close to tears, as he focused his eyes on the wooden panelling on the wall above Judge Alexander Owens.
Mr McGregors father, Tony, stood behind him, having attended the case every day.
Ms Hand leaned against her boyfriend Gary, whom she met in recent years, and who has been with her during the entire case. The jury has heard that she split from her former partner, her daughters father, around six months after the assault.
Ms Hand (outside court today) accused McGregor of rape and another man of assault
She thanked her partner for his support, saying he had held her hand throughout.
McGregor was silent as he left court.
He left swiftly in his Bentley, pulling away from a large media scrum without comment.
Ms 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.
She said that she and a friend made contact with McGregor, who she knew, after a work Christmas party.
She said they were driven by McGregor to a party in a penthouse room of a south Dublin hotel where drugs and alcohol were consumed.
She said 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.
Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court
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 was: Did Mr McGregor assault Ms Hand?
The second was: 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.
Outside the Four Courts in Dublin that she felt vindicated after the jury agreed McGregor had assaulted her.
Ms Hand said she hoped her case will remind victims of assault to keep pushing forward for justice, and show her daughter, Freya, that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you no matter who the person is and justice will be served.
She said: I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be: Speak up, you have a voice and keep on fighting for justice.
I know this has impacted not only my life, my daughters, my family and friends tremendously.
Its something that Ill never forget for the rest of my life.
Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against him for damages
Now that justice has been served, I can now try and move on and look forward to the future with my family and friends and daughter.
Asked if she felt vindicated following the jurys decision, she said: Yes, I do. Thank you.
And speaking about what it is like to be believed, Ms Hand added: I have no words - it is unbelievable.
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, 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.
Mr Lawrence, co-defendant of Conor McGregor, outside the High Court in Dublin on Thursday
He said it should be an offence that is really serious, and that they could regard rape as really serious.
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.
