A civil court jury in Ireland awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) to a woman who claimed she was brutally raped and battered by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse. The assault allegedly took place on Dec. 9, 2018, following a night of partying, leaving the woman heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
McGregor, who denied the allegations, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men delivered the verdict after about six hours of deliberation in the High Court in Dublin. He did not comment as he left the court.
The woman, visibly emotional, expressed her relief outside the courthouse, stating that she could now move forward with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, and supporters, particularly acknowledging the strength her daughter provided throughout the ordeal.
Her lawyer argued that McGregor, allegedly angered by a previous fight loss, took out his frustrations on the woman, calling him a coward. The woman testified that McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and put her in a chokehold multiple times.
Despite the woman's complaint and medical evidence of intense bruising, prosecutors declined to press charges against McGregor, citing insufficient evidence and low likelihood of conviction. McGregor maintained that the encounter was consensual and denied any wrongdoing.
During the trial, McGregor's defense presented surveillance footage showing the woman kissing McGregor's arm and hugging him after leaving the hotel room, suggesting a positive interaction. McGregor's lawyer urged jurors to set aside any personal biases against the fighter.
McGregor, in his testimony, refuted the woman's claims, stating that the encounter was athletic and vigorous but not rough. He dismissed the allegations as lies and emphasized his prideful nature, questioning the credibility of the accusations against him.
Despite the jury's ruling in favor of the woman, McGregor's legal team maintained his innocence and highlighted inconsistencies in the woman's account. The case underscored the complexities of sexual assault allegations and the challenges of proving such cases in court.
