Woman who accused Conor McGregor of raping her wins court case as jury rules against UFC fighter

Conor McGregor has been found liable for the assault of a woman in a Dublin hotel six years ago after a civil court case in the Republic of Ireland.

Dublin woman Nikita Hand accused the UFC fighter of raping her at a hotel in the Irish capital after a Christmas night out in December 2018.

Hand alleged McGregor pinned her to a bed, choked her three times and "brutally raped and battered" her.

A civil jury at Dublin High Court was told she was left with extensive injuries, including bruising along her hands and wrists, a bloodied scratch to her breast and tenderness to her neck.

McGregor denied all the allegations against him, as did co-defendant James Lawrence.

The MMA fighter told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel in the south of the city.

But following two weeks of evidence and several days listening to closing remarks, the jury of eight women and four men found McGregor liable for the assault of Hand.

The jury ruled that McGregor's co-defendant Lawrence did not assault Hand.

McGregor has been ordered to pay Hand more than €248,000 (£206,000) in damages.

McGregor has lost the civil court case in Dublin (Image: Getty)

The trial was a civil case after the Irish director of public prosecutions decided not to charge McGregor criminally following an investigation.

As reported by the Daily Mail, McGregor shook his head when the verdict was announced on Friday evening.

McGregor was joined in court by his fiancé Dee Devlin, sister Aoife McGregor, mother Margaret and father Tony in addition to other family members.

Hand was accompanied by her boyfriend, her mother Debbie and other supporters.

Speaking to reporters outside the court following her victory, Hand said the last two weeks had been a "nightmare".

When asked how it felt to be believed, she added: "I have no words. It is unbelievable. Thanks so much."

Topics: Conor McGregor, UFC, MMA