BREAKING: Nikita Hand speaks outside court.
pic.twitter.com/H1K4eit8Ug— Paul
Healy (@Healyhack)
November 22, 2024
A jury has found
Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor
McGregor liable for the sexual assault of Nikita Hand in
2018.
The trial of McGregor has come to an end, with the Dublin High
Court finding that McGregor assaulted Hand during their 2018
encounter. She
testified earlier that both he and another man, James Lawrence,
raped her at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin on Dec. 9, 2018. The jury
did not find that Lawrence had assaulted her. As a result of the
civil case decision, according to the
Irish Mirror and
RTE, “Notorious” has been ordered to pay 248,603.60 euros
($259,025) to Hand in damages.
McGregor denied all accusations of harmful contact, claiming any
activity was consensual when describing the acts he believed she
had consented to. Hand relayed a number of injuries including
bruising all over her body, to which McGregor stated never came
from him. When filing the suit in 2021, Hand pursued damages
upwards of $2 million for her injuries as well as lost wages and
forced relocation due to harassment and threats for coming out
against the beloved fighter. She also filed a personal injury suit
against him, one that is currently pending.
Hand issued a statement after the ruling, first thanking her family
and friends for their support as well as her legal team to get
here.
“I want to show [my daughter] and every other girl and boy that you
can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter
who the person is, and justice will be served. To all the victims
of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how
afraid you might be, speak up, you have voice, and keep on fighting
for justice,” she remarked.
As this was not a criminal trial, McGregor was not found “guilty”
of any crimes. Additionally, the evidentiary standard is lowered,
meaning that the burden is proving that it was more likely than not
that McGregor assaulted her, rather than that it was beyond a
reasonable doubt. The civil decision can be appealed from the High
Court to the Court of Appeal, and one final step of appeal is the
Supreme Court. McGregor has not competed in combat sports since
breaking his leg against Dustin
Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021, with multiple engagements against
Michael
Chandler falling through the last few years.
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
While he did not stop to make a statement outside of the courtroom,
McGregor did post on social media shortly after to announce his
intentions.
“I will be appealing today’s decision,” the Irishman wrote. “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 [Director of Public
Prosecutions] reviewed. I am with family now, focused on my future.
Thank you to all my support worldwide.”