Conor McGregor doubles down on his innocence in follow-up statement after being found liable of sexual assault
Conor McGregor insists he’s done nothing wrong.
On Friday, McGregor was found liable of sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin Hotel back in 2018. The jury verdict came after an 11-day trial where Hand and her team claimed McGregor “raped and battered” her, providing testimony from a physician and a psychologist. McGregor in turn argued that the sex with Hand was consensual but saying “sex with me was athletic, physical.”
In the end the Dublin High Court jury found McGregor liable in the civil trial, ordering the UFC star to pay Hand €248,603.60 (approx. $258,440).
Following the verdict, McGregor was quick to issue a statement via Twitter where the UFC star said he intended to appeal the decision. McGregor has since deleted his initial Tweet but on Saturday the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion returned to Twitter where he again spoke about the verdict, claiming innocence and doubling down on his plans to appeal.
“Justice was served for James Lawrence, yes! Deplorable what they done. Nikita Hand, vicious liar! APPEAL!” McGregor said in one Tweet.
“Falsely accused a man of rape and lost.” McGregor said in another.
Lawrence was also accused of sexually assaulting Hand along with McGregor, however, Lawrence was not found to be liable.
McGregor did not stop there though, issuing a lengthy response to the verdict that, as of now, remains up on Twitter, calling the proceedings “a kangaroo court” and insisting that the entire accusation is a lie.
“Two men falsely accused. One vindicated, the other soon to be! Congrats James Lawrence on absolute exoneration! Twice this heinous accusation was put to you and twice it was shown as FALSE! LIES! It is absolutely disgraceful what they put you through here. Disgraceful! I look forward to seeing you further vindicate yourself and lambast those responsible in court!
“We know what happened that night! Everyone present knows, yet it was ignored. Every single statement of persons present on the night was ignored. And they all disputed Nikita’s LIES! However James they did believe you but just in certain parts for some strange reason. And they apparently did not believe Danielle Kealy at all. Laughable! Also with the damages (60k and 188k, interesting choice of figures) it seems they didn’t believe Nikita much either. How could they, her original story was she was gang raped by security and chased from the hotel on foot. Absolute nonsense.
“How these lies were accepted, I will never know. A court of feeling and opinion, brainwashed in to people via the main stream media. Not of fact! The reporting in court a laughing stock to everyone present. As clear as day bias. This is not a court of hard evidence and truth. It is a kangaroo court of opinions and feelings. We are not done yet. Not by a long shot. No chance. On we fight! Justice and truth will prevail! Appeal! Appeal! Appeal! As well as other. Congrats James! Onwards and upwards!”
The first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history, McGregor remains the biggest star in MMA despite not competing for over three years. “The Notorious” was supposed to make his long-awaited return early this year at UFC 303 but a toe injury forced him from the card. UFC CEO Dana White previously said he anticipates McGregor will return in late 2025, but it’s unclear if this lawsuit will impact that timeline at all.