Report: Conor McGregor found liable of sexual assault in civil case, ordered to pay $250K in damages

Conor McGregor has been found liable in a civil suit related to an alleged assault that took place in Dublin, Ireland, in December 2018.

According to RTE, on Friday, a Dublin High Court jury found McGregor liable of assault, with the UFC star ordered to pay victim Nikita Hand €248,603.60 (approx. $258,440) in damages. Another defendant also accused of assault, James Lawrence, was found not guilty.

McGregor and Lawrence were accused of sexually assaulting Hand at a Beacon Hotel penthouse suite in Sandyford, Dublin, on Dec. 9, 2018. Hand and her team claimed she and McGregor were out together when McGregor attempted to force her to have sex. Hand testified that she told a friend that McGregor “raped and battered” her, later backing up her claims with testimony from a physician and a psychologist.

On Nov. 13, McGregor took the stand and denied the accusations. He claimed any interaction between he and Hand was consensual, though he admitted that “sex with me was athletic, physical.”

The sexual assault allegations first became public on Dec. 12, 2018. Following a two-year investigation into the incident, it was reported in January 2021 that no formal charges were filed against McGregor and the former two-division UFC champion was not prosecuted. A personal injury lawsuit was filed against McGregor that same month, with the trial beginning on Nov. 5, 2024.

It should be noted that Irish law is similar to U.S. law when it comes to burden of proof, with Irish law citing the need for “a balance of probabilities” in civil cases, meaning a jury must only find a claim to be more likely than not.

Following Friday’s verdict, McGregor exited the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

Watch video below, courtesy of Irish Mirror.

Hand read from a prepared statement, in which she thanked her legal team, family, and supporters.

Watch the video below, courtesy of Irish Mirror.

“I want to show [my daughter] and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served,” Hand said. “To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up. You have a voice and keep on fighting for justice.

“I know this has impacted not only my life, my daughter’s, my family and friends tremendously, and it’s something that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. But now that justice has been served, I can now try and move on and look forward to the future with my family and friends and daughter.”

Hand’s accusations included several grisly details, including that McGregor choked her and that the alleged non-consensual sex left her with a tampon lodged in her vagina. She claims PTSD has left her unable to return to work.

At one point in his testimony, McGregor said to Hand’s attorney, “Your client is full of lies. Everything is a lie.”

McGregor remains a prominent 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.

Later, McGregor tweeted that he plans to appeal the verdict.

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

Jed Meshew contributed to this report.