UFC athlete Conor McGregor appeared in the High Court in Dublin on Tuesday to address a civil rape complaint related to an alleged sexual assault from 2018.
McGregor and the claimed victim, Nikita Ni Lamhain (Hand), were both present in the courthouse as the trial commenced, according to many news sources, including The Irish Times. In 2021, Hand initiated a civil action, alleging that the UFC star and another individual, James Lawrence, engaged in non-consensual sexual intercourse with her while she was intoxicated in a hotel room in December 2018.
McGregor and Lawrence have refuted the allegations.
Judge Alexander Owens notified the 12 jurors (four men and eight women) that the trial is expected to last two weeks.
On Tuesday, an emergency room gynecologist, Dr. Daniel Kane, who worked at Rotunda Hospital and treated Hand shortly after the alleged incident, said what he observed was “consistent with the outline of events as described by Nikita (Hand),” according to the Irish Mirror.
Kane said bruising was present in various locations across Hand’s body and said he witnessed Hand shaking and crying. The jury was shown images of the bruising.
According to Kane, Hand said, “He had me by the neck. He stopped me from breathing a few times. I thought he was going to kill me.”
Kane also said he performed a sexual assault examination kit to collect DNA samples in front of authorities. He also retrieved a tampon that was “wedged at the very, very top.”
Hand said that, hours prior to the alleged incident, she attended a costume party at a club, drank alcohol and took cocaine. She said McGregor, whose cousin she was friends with, commented on an Instagram post of hers, asking where she was.
The comment came weeks after Hand told McGregor to give her a bottle of Proper Twelve, the UFC star’s Irish whiskey brand, to which McGregor responded, “You can get whatever you want, Nikita.”
As the night progressed, Hand said she contacted McGregor, they spoke on the phone, and McGregor said he’d come pick up her and her friend. At around 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., McGregor and a security guard arrived by car.
The car stopped to pick up Lawrence. McGregor exited the vehicle and came back with what he said was cocaine. Hand said she and her friend did some cocaine and were taken to a hotel, where they thought there would be another party.
The group went up to two connecting rooms. At one point, Hand said security closed the doors between the rooms, leaving her with McGregor. Hand said McGregor made verbal then physical advances on her as she tried to push McGregor away and brought up his engagement to longtime fiancee Dee Devlin.
According to Hand, McGregor said “that’s how I felt in the octagon, I had to tap myself out three times, that’s how I felt” as he forcibly had sex with her.
Hand alleges she doesn’t have much recollection beyond that, other than being taken home in a taxi later that day. After telling her mother what happened, she went to the emergency room. One month later, she notified police.
In the statement of claim reported by The New York Times in 2021, Hand cited having psychological and emotional problems caused by the alleged rape, has been unable to work since May 2019 and is seeking damages of $1.79-$2.13 million for lost wages (past and future), a change of homes, and medical expenses.
The civil trial is expected to resume Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. local time (5:30 a.m. ET).
UPDATE 15.11.24
All the evidence in a civil case against Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has been put before the jury.
Mr McGregor is facing an accusation in the civil action that he “brutally raped and battered” Nikita Hand at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.
The Irish sports star has previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel.
Ms Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, is also suing another man, James Lawrence, for sexual assault.
Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor leaves the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)
Dr Basil John Farnan, former principal forensic medical officer for Northern Ireland and a GP, was the final witness called in the High Court action.
The jury has heard eight days of evidence.
Dr Farnan was asked to explain how bruising can come about and how quickly it can appear on the skin.
He told the court that bruising can be different in size and colour and that there can be a delay in its appearance.
Dr Farnan said that bruises can appear hours after the trauma, or there can be a longer delay.
The court previously heard that the mother-of-one was left with extensive bruises and abrasions over her body, including purple and blue bruising along her hands and wrists, a bloodied scratch on her breast and tenderness on her neck after she was allegedly placed in a “choke-hold” by Mr McGregor.
Mr McGregor has denied that he caused the bruising across her body, saying they could have been caused when she “swan dived” into the bath in the hotel room.
Dr Farnan was also asked about women having sex while using a tampon.
He said that it was not a question he had been asked, and it would have been a “peculiar” question.
The court was previously told that Ms Hand had been using a tampon on the night she was allegedly assaulted.
Dr Daniel Kane, a gynaecologist and forensic examiner in sexual assault cases, previously said he had to use forceps to remove the tampon, which had been “wedged inside”, the day after the alleged assault.
Mr Justice Alex Owens told the jury on Friday that they have now heard all the evidence from the plaintiff and defence.
The jury of eight women and four men were told he will discuss legal issues that have arisen from the evidence with counsel on both sides.
They were also told that an issue paper, outlining the issues that the jury must consider in reaching its decision, will be given to them.
He said that they are the decision-makers and their role is to evaluate all the facts and come to a conclusion.
They were told to return on Tuesday, when they will hear closing speeches and the judge’s charge, before retiring.
The jury was told not to Google or carry out their own research in relation to the case, that they are not entitled to consult law books or look up the meaning of an assault or special damages.
“Stay well away from that. I will explain that to you,” he said.
UPDATE 231124
Unsurprisingly, A woman who said that Irish mixed martial arts athlete Conor McGregor raped her in a Dublin hotel has succeeded in her claim for damages in a High Court civil action.
The jury in the civil lawsuit involving Mr. McGregor rendered their verdict on Friday afternoon.
The jury awarded Ms. Hand a total of 248,603.60 euros in damages.
Conor McGregor was accused of “brutally raping and battering” Nikita Hand in a hotel in South Dublin in December 2018.
The Irish sports figure earlier informed the court that he engaged in consensual sexual relations with Ms. Hand at a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel.
Ms Nikita Hand also referred to as Nikita Ni Laimhin lost her case against James Lawrence, whom she accused of assault for allegedly engaging in non-consensual sexual intercourse with her at the same hotel.
Following eight days of evidence and three days listening to closing speeches and the judge’s charge, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before returning with its verdict.
Conor McGregor shook his head after the jury read out that Ms Hand had won her case against him.
Conor McGregor was accompanied by his family, including his partner Dee Devlin, parents, sister and brother-in-law.
He sat in the back row of the court, between his partner and mother, Margaret.
Ms Nikita Hand, 35, cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters.
Several police were in the courtroom as the verdict was delivered.
[Editor’s Note – Why is Conor McGregor not facing criminal charges?]
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