Conor McGregor, the former face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has been found liable for assault by a civil court jury in Dublin, Ireland. The court ordered McGregor to pay nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) to Nikita Hand, who claimed he attacked her in a hotel penthouse in 2018.
The incident took place on December 9, 2018, after a Christmas party. Hand, who knew McGregor socially from growing up in the same area, sent him a message on Instagram. McGregor picked up Hand and a friend in a car, where they shared cocaine, before heading to the Beacon Hotel.
Hand testified that she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex and was menstruating. She said McGregor pinned her to a bed, put her in a chokehold, and threatened to kill her. Hand feared she wouldn't see her young daughter again.
"Now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," McGregor allegedly said during the attack.
A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified to seeing bruising of unprecedented intensity. A doctor also confirmed Hand had multiple injuries.
Despite the severity of the allegations, prosecutors decided not to file criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence for a likely conviction. Hand then pursued a civil case against McGregor.
After about six hours of deliberation, a jury of eight women and four men found McGregor liable for assault. The fighter shook his head as the verdict was read and later posted on X that he would appeal the decision and the "modest award."
McGregor denied forcing Hand to do anything against her will and claimed she made up the allegations after consensual sex.
Hand expressed relief after the verdict:
"I will never forget what happened, but now I can move on with my life. I'm grateful to my family, partner, friends, the jurors, the judge, and my online supporters. I'm especially thankful for my daughter."
Hand said the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. She couldn't work as a hairdresser, fell behind on her mortgage, and had to move out of her house.
The case has drawn significant attention due to McGregor's fame as a mixed martial arts fighter, though his career has declined in recent years.
