In 2018, A lawsuit was filed against, Conor McGregor, by a woman, named Nikita Hand, claiming that the fighter sexually assaulted her in a “hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying” (CNN).
McGregor was found guilty on Friday, by a civil jury in Ireland. “McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that the woman had fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex” (CBS News).
McGregor was hit with a civil lawsuit in 2021 alongside James Lawrence, McGregor’s friend, with Karen J. Kessler, McGregor’s spokesperson, dismissing the charges during that time stating, that “the Irish police had investigated and declined to bring criminal charges.., After an exhaustive investigation conducted by the Gardai which, in addition to interviews of the plaintiff, included: interviewing numerous sources, obtaining witnesses’ statements, examining closed-circuit footage, and the cooperation of Conor McGregor, these allegations were categorically rejected” (AP News).
It was said that Hand and McGregor were known to each other, and the woman seemingly expected a good time, but that it, “ended up turning into a nightmare” (CBS News).
Hand, testified two weeks ago, saying she felt uncomfortable with McGregor, “after being left alone with him in a bedroom in the penthouse suite of a Dublin hotel” (AP News). It was stated that McGregor had taken his anger out on Hand, following a lost UFC fight. McGregor had testified that he had not forced hand to do anything and that, “the woman had fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex” (CNN).
Many gruesome details were revealed in the trial, with it being said that “McGregor put her in a choke hold several times and later told her, “Now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times” and as a result of fearing for her life, “She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her” (CNN).
After heavy discussion from the jury for 6 hours, McGregor was found liable for the assault and was ordered to pay $250,000 to Hand.
Hand spoke after the verdict, stating, “I’m overwhelmed. I’m touched by the support I’ve received from everybody” (X).
McGregor has plans to appeal the decision, stating that, “he was disappointed in the decision and that he planned to appeal” (USA Today).
