(This story was updated to add new information.)
Former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor has been found guilty of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit in Ireland.
A jury in Dublin on Friday returned a guilty verdict that McGregor sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in December 2018. Hand filed a civil suit in early 2021 alleging while intoxicated, McGregor and another man, James Lawrence, had sex with her without her consent. Full criminal charges were not pursued.
The jury, according to Irish Mirror journalist Paul Healy, who has been in the courtroom throughout the trial, returned a verdict that included damages amounting to around €250,000 (nearly the same in U.S. dollars). The jury returned its verdict in a little more than six hours.
The jury said Lawrence did not assault Hand. During the trial, Hand’s attorney said McGregor and Lawrence made a combined effort to have Lawrence take the fall, rather than McGregor.
Hand was seeking damages – general, special, aggravated, and punitive – for the incident and her inability to work due to mental health reasons, according to court documents. In the statement of claim reported by The New York Times in 2021, Hand sought damages of $1.79-$2.13 million for the same.
McGregor and his legal team were in the courtroom for the verdict, as was McGregor’s wife, Dee Devlin, with whom he shares four children, the first of which was born in late 2017. McGregor admitted under oath during the trial that he had sex with Hand during the incident in question in late 2018, but said it was consensual.
The trial wrapped up at the end of its second week. McGregor and another MMA fighter, James Lawrence, faced sexual assault accusations in a lawsuit filed by Hand, who alleged they had sex with her without her consent while she was intoxicated in December 2018 at a hotel after a long night of partying. Criminal charges weren’t fully pursued, but Hand filed a civil suit in 2021.
McGregor has not fought since a July 2021 TKO loss to Dustin Poirier. It’s been more than eight years since he most recently held a UFC title, which was stripped from him for failure to defend. Although he was tapped to coach on “The Ultimate Fighter” opposite Michael Chandler and fight afterward, that fight has not come to fruition. UFC CEO Dana White said he expects McGregor back in the UFC by the end of 2025.
McGregor says he will appeal decision
McGregor posted on social media that he was disappointed in the decision and that he planned to appeal, He said the “modest award” given to Hand was only for his assault of her, and appeared to try to ease his level of guilt by saying she was not awarded anything for “aggravated or exemplary damages.”
McGregor also said he was with his family and “focused on my future.”
I will be appealing today’s decision. The judge’s 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.…
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 22, 2024
Hand speaks outside courthouse
Hand spoke to reporters from a pre-written statement while surrounded by family and friends outside the courthouse moments after the verdict was handed down.
“I’m overwhelmed. I’m touched by the support I’ve received from everybody,” Hand said.”… (My daughter) has given me the strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing for justice. I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that if something happens to you, you can stand up for yourself – no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.”
BREAKING: Nikita Hand speaks outside court. pic.twitter.com/H1K4eit8Ug
— Paul Healy (@Healyhack) November 22, 2024
McGregor’s testimony earlier in the trial
McGregor’s time on the stand was split across two days, according to numerous reports, including from the Irish Mirror. McGregor has denied the allegations from the start, including a passionate verbal denial during his first day on the stand last Wednesday, during which McGregor called the allegations “lies” and said the situation has instilled fear in him.
On Thursday, McGregor returned to the stand and was cross-examined by Hand attorney John Gordon. McGregor admitted to cocaine use during the hours around the alleged the incident but reaffirmed sex with Hand was consensual and not pre-planned, despite having booked a hotel room.
Gordon questioned McGregor about an initial statement given to Gardai, the Irish authorities, during the investigation and why the UFC star responded “no comment” to an estimated 150 questions. McGregor responded that he was “petrified” and took his lawyers’ advice.
McGregor also denied Hand’s claim that she had a tampon lodged deep inside her during intercourse. A medical worker previously testified forceps were used to remove a tampon during her visit to a local emergency room.
McGregor admitted he paid Lawrence’s legal fees for this case, something Gordon used to claim it was a coordinated effort by the two defendants to make Lawrence a “fall man.”
James Lawrence’s testimony
Last Thursday, Lawrence spoke publicly on the incident for the first time as he took the stand.
Lawrence denied cocaine use on the night of the incident and said he isn’t a drug user. He detailed how he and Danielle Kealey, Hand’s co-worker who was in the connecting room during the alleged incident, had sex multiple times in one room while he could hear Hand moaning in the other room.
Lawrence added that he could see Hand on top of McGregor through an open door and that there did not appear to be any distress. Lawrence also added Hand entered the room as he and Kealey were getting intimate and cracked a joke toward the two of them.
Lawrence admitted to then having sex with Hand twice, something Hand stated she has no memory of and only found out through local authorities’ investigation. Lawrence claims Hand initiated the intimacy, trying “14, 15 times” to make a move toward him.
According to the Irish Mirror, surveillance footage shows the two in the hotel and elevator displaying public signs of affection. Hand claims she was intoxicated while this was going on and was taken advantage of.
Lawrence said sex with Hand was consensual, and she did not seem distressed, outside of a brief vocal realization that she had betrayed her boyfriend. He said he noticed bruising on Hand, though it was not from him. Lawrence said he and Hand ordered food before he paid for her ride home.
During cross-examination, Lawrence confirmed he was the one to come forth and tell police about his alleged sexual encounter with Hand. This came a couple days after McGregor had given his statement to police.
Closing arguments
Both attorneys had an opportunity to persuade the jury one last time during their closing arguments.
McGregor’s attorney, Remy Farrell, went first and asked the jury to make a decision based on the evidence, not on their personal opinions of McGregor. Farrell repeatedly pointed to Hand’s spotty memory of the events and brought up testimony from Kealey that she had not noticed anything irregular. Farrell also brought up the surveillance footage as contradicting her account of her interactions with Lawrence.
Next, Lawrence attorney John Fitzgerald made his final pitch. He pointed to Lawrence’s “relative obscurity” and disinterest in being in the spotlight. Fitzgerald echoed Lawrence’s denial of being a “fall man” and brought up Kealey and the surveillance footage, as well.
Finally, Hand’s attorney, Gordon, returned and reiterated his client’s allegations that she was forcefully raped. Gordon brought up testimony from medical professionals including paramedic Eithne Scully, who indicated the scene on the ambulance with Hand after the incident was one of the worst she’s ever been on.
Gordon pointed to Dr. Ann Leader’s testimony that Hand suffers from PTSD as a result of the incident. Gordon also brought up the bruising present on Hand and the tampon that was lodged inside her vagina.
