Conor McGregor has been discovered liable in a civil go well with associated to an alleged assault that came about in Dublin, Eire, in December 2018.
In keeping with RTE, on Friday, a Dublin Excessive Court docket jury discovered McGregor liable of assault, with the UFC star ordered to pay sufferer Nikita Hand €248,603.60 (approx. $258,440) in damages. One other defendant additionally accused of assault, James Lawrence, was discovered not responsible.
McGregor and Lawrence had been accused of sexually assaulting Hand at a Beacon Resort penthouse suite in Sandyford, Dublin, on Dec. 9, 2018. Hand and her workforce claimed she and McGregor had been out collectively when McGregor tried to power her to have intercourse. Hand testified that she advised a pal that McGregor “raped and battered” her, later backing up her claims with testimony from a doctor and a psychologist.
On Nov. 13, McGregor took the stand and denied the accusations. He claimed any interplay between he and Hand was consensual, although he admitted that “intercourse with me was athletic, bodily.”
The sexual assault allegations first turned public on Dec. 12, 2018. Following a two-year investigation into the incident, it was reported in January 2021 that no formal prices had been filed towards McGregor and the previous two-division UFC champion was not prosecuted. A private damage lawsuit was filed towards McGregor that very same month, with the trial starting on Nov. 5, 2024.
It needs to be famous that Irish legislation is just like U.S. legislation in the case of burden of proof, with Irish legislation citing the necessity for “a steadiness of chances” in civil instances, that means a jury should solely discover a declare to be extra doubtless than not.
Following Friday’s verdict, McGregor exited the courthouse with out chatting with reporters.
Watch video under, courtesy of Irish Mirror.
Hand learn from a ready assertion, by which she thanked her authorized workforce, household, and supporters.
Watch the video under, courtesy of Irish Mirror.
“I need to present [my daughter] and each different lady and boy which you can arise for your self if one thing occurs to you, irrespective of who the particular person is, and justice shall be served,” Hand mentioned. “To all of the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder that irrespective of how afraid you could be, communicate up. You’ve got a voice and carry on combating for justice.
“I do know this has impacted not solely my life, my daughter’s, my household and mates tremendously, and it’s one thing that I’ll always remember for the remainder of my life. However now that justice has been served, I can now attempt to transfer on and sit up for the long run with my household and mates and daughter.”
Hand’s accusations included a number of grisly particulars, together with that McGregor choked her and that the alleged non-consensual intercourse left her with a tampon lodged in her vagina. She claims PTSD has left her unable to return to work.
At one level in his testimony, McGregor mentioned to Hand’s legal professional, “Your consumer is stuffed with lies. All the things is a lie.”
McGregor stays a outstanding member of the UFC roster. The 36-year-old Irishman has not competed since breaking his leg in a bout with longtime rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
