CONOR SPEAKS
Conor McGregor breaks silence & vows to appeal after jury finds MMA fighter DID assault woman in hotel
McGregor has been ordered to pay Nikita Hand nearly 250,000 euros (£207k)
CONOR McGregor has insisted he will appeal a civil court jury's verdict that he did assault a woman in a Dublin hotel room.
Nikita Hand accused the Irish mixed martial arts fighter, 36, of "brutally raping and battering" her after a Christmas night out in December 2018.
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The Irish sports star - who arrived in court hand in hand with his partner Dee Devlin - claimed he had consensual sex with Ms Hand at the Beacon Hotel.
But today a jury in the civil case against McGregor decided he did assault Ms Hand.
He has been ordered to pay her nearly 250,000 euros (£207k).
Disgraced McGregor did not comment as he left the courthouse today, but has since broken his silence on X.
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He wrote: "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. Thank you to all my support worldwide."
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His partner Dee Devlin was seen leaving the court in tears following the jury's decision.
McGregor shook his head as the jury - who spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating - revealed Ms Hand had won her case against him.
Brave Nikita Hand speaks out after winning sexual assault civil action against Conor McGregor
Ms Hand, 35, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, said the assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Her voice trembled as she said a statement to the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life.
She thanked her family, partner, friends and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter.
Mum-of-one Ms Hand sued both McGregor and James Lawrence, alleging the pair "brutally raped and battered" her in a hotel penthouse during a cocaine and alcohol-fuelled afterparty.
Both denied her allegations, and claimed the sex was consensual.
McGregor described Ms Hand's allegation that he raped her as "lies", telling the court the sex was "enthusiastic and athletic".
The cage fighter was shown photos of bruises on the complainant's body taken in the days after the alleged assault.
Under cross-examination by Ms Hand's barrister John Gordon, McGregor denied causing the bruises, saying they "possibly came from her diving into the bath".
But Mr Gordon drew the jury’s attention to the medical evidence about the severity of Ms Hand’s bruises.
And Ms Hand's barrister highlighted how a tampon had to be removed from her using forceps in hospital when she attended after the alleged rape.
Mr Gordon said: "The liar here is McGregor who doesn't have the courage or the decency to own up to what he did.
"He's not a man, he's a devious coward and you should treat him for what he is."
And referring to bruising on Ms Hand's body, Mr Gordon said: "Let's put it this way: somebody did it. It happened in the Beacon Hotel. It was McGregor."
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The jury of eight women and four men decided today McGregor had assaulted Ms Hand.
But she lost her case against James Lawrence, who she accused of assaulting her by allegedly having sex without her consent at the same hotel.
Does Conor McGregor have any chance of continuing UFC career?
FORMER UFC champion Conor McGregor did assault a woman who accused him of raping her in a Dublin hotel, a civil court jury found on Friday.
The 36-year-old was accused of "brutally raping and battering" Nikita Hand in December 2018.
He will now have to pay Ms Hand 248,603.60 euros in damages.
Despite losing his case, McGregor has vowed to appeal.
The Irishman's future in MMA and UFC is now in doubt. He hasn't been in the octagon since July 2021 when he broke his leg and was stopped against Dustin Poirier.
Here's what SunSport's chief MMA reporter Chisanga Malata had to say about the situation...
"The ruling, which came in a civil court, not a criminal court, has given the UFC arguably its biggest-ever headache in its 31-year run. MMA chiefs will now have to make a major decision over their poster boy.
"Personally, I think he fights again. There is a precedent for it. Just look at the man who fought Jake Paul last week.
"Of course, I'm talking about former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, who was sent to jail in the 1990s for rape. He came out and he had a successful career after that, making millions upon millions of pounds before retiring in 2005.
"Sadly, there is a precedent for it. But the UFC now has a massive decision to make. As I said, I think he fights again. I think they stick to the plan that was announced last week at the UFC 309 post-fight press conference and they have him fight late 2025.
"Perhaps they said late 2025 in anticipation of this ruling not going McGregor's way and giving some time for this to blow over - even though something of this magnitude can never, ever blow over.
"I believe McGregor will fight again barring a sensational decision from Dana White and all the investors and they axe their poster boy. But I just don't see that happening and I do see him returning to the octagon late next year.
"Questions will have to be asked of the UFC and rightly so. But more so of the man himself, Mr McGregor."
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