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A woman who accused mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor of “brutally raping and beating” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly €250,000 ($257,000) by a civil court jury in Ireland on Friday.
The woman, identified as Nikita Hand, claimed she was seriously injured in the attack on December 9, 2018, and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following a night of partying. McGregor denied the allegations, testifying that their meeting was consensual and that Hand had fabricated the claims. Her lawyer described her as a “gold digger”.
After six hours of deliberations, a jury of eight women and four men found McGregor guilty of the attack despite his denials. The fighter, once a prominent figure in the UFC, showed no reaction when the decision was announced. He later vowed to appeal the verdict and the “modest award” on social media platform X.
Outside the courthouse, Hand, clearly emotional, thanked her family, friends, jurors and supporters for helping her through the ordeal. He also expressed gratitude to his daughter, who he said has given him strength during the six years since the attack. “I want to show him and every other boy and girl that if something happens to you, you can stand up for yourself, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served,” she said.
Throughout the trial, Hand’s attorney argued that an angry McGregor took out his frustrations on Hand after the loss in Las Vegas. He described McGregor as a “coward” and urged jurors to hold him accountable for his actions.
Hand testified that McGregor sexually assaulted her, despite her objections, after sharing cocaine with him and a friend. She said she repeatedly told him “no”, but he choked her, strangled her and threatened to kill her. Hand remembers fearing for her life, afraid she would never see her daughter again. She said she ultimately agreed with McGregor out of fear.
A paramedic who examined the hand the next day testified to the severity of his injuries, describing the bruising as unlike anything he had seen before. Medical experts confirmed that there were multiple injuries to the hand.
Police investigated the case, but prosecutors decided not to pursue charges, citing insufficient evidence. McGregor, who has consistently denied the allegations, claimed that their interaction was athletic and vigorous but not violent. He dismissed the woman’s account of the incident as a “complete lie”.
McGregor’s defense team argued that the jury should put aside any personal animosity towards the fighter and focus on the facts. He also presented surveillance footage showing Hand kissing McGregor’s arm and “happy” after they left the hotel room, suggesting the encounter was consensual.
Despite the civil court ruling, McGregor continues to deny the allegations, and the case remains a highly controversial legal matter. In a separate trial, Hand lost her case against McGregor’s friend, James Lawrence, whom she also accused of sexual assault.
(with AP input)
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