DUBLIN, Ireland — A civil court jury in Ireland awarded Nikita Hand nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday, for claims that she was assaulted by former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Hand claimed the incident occurred after a night out, leaving her with severe bruising and post-traumatic stress disorder.
During the trial, McGregor, who vehemently denied the allegations, insisted that their interaction was consensual and suggested that Hand had fabricated the claims for financial gain. His defense referred to her as opportunistic. Yet, after six hours of deliberation, the jury consisting of eight women and four men, sided with Hand, holding McGregor liable for the assault.
McGregor expressed his disagreement with the verdict shortly after the decision, indicating on the social platform X that he plans to appeal both the verdict and the financial award, which he described as “modest.”
Hand shared her relief outside the courthouse, visibly overwhelmed. She emphasized that while the memory of the incident would never fade, the verdict allows her to move forward. Overcome with emotion, she thanked her family, partner, friends, and particularly her daughter, for giving her the strength to endure the six-year ordeal and seek justice.
McGregor’s lawyer attempted to cast doubt on Hand’s credibility during the trial, suggesting a motive fueled by anger from a professional defeat McGregor had suffered two months prior in Las Vegas. However, the jury was urged to see past McGregor’s celebrity status and assess his actions as presented in court.
During her testimony, Hand recounted how McGregor became forceful despite her protests, culminating in an assault that she felt powerless to stop. Medical testimonies supported her claims, detailing significant injuries and emotional trauma consistent with such an encounter.
Despite a thorough investigation by the police following Hand’s allegations, criminal charges were not pursued, with prosecutors citing insufficient evidence to secure a conviction. Following the jury’s decision, McGregor disputed the completeness of the evidence presented during the trial.
The trial revealed details of the events leading to the alleged assault, including Hand’s initial interaction with McGregor through social media after a Christmas party and her consequent invitation to the hotel where the incident purportedly took place. Hand’s accounts illustrated an evening that began with social familiarity and deteriorated dramatically, a narrative underscored by her emotional testimony over three days.
In a related judgment, the jury ruled against Hand in a separate claim she brought against one of McGregor’s friends, whom she accused of also assaulting her during the same incident.
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