Conor McGregor loses his appeal of Dublin civil rape case decision

Conor McGregor lost his appeal today, Thursday, July 31, of the November 2024 Dublin High Court ruling that he was civilly liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in December 2018.

Dublin native McGregor, 37, lost his appeal on all five grounds that the case was taken.

McGregor’s co-defendant James Lawrence also lost his appeal against the trial judge’s decision not to award him his legal costs. The High Court jury found in November that Lawrence had not assaulted Hand.

According to the PA, the three judges of the Court of Appeals – Justice Isobel Kennedy, Justice Brian O’Moore, and Justice Patrick MacGrath – agreed to dismiss both appeals in their entirety on Thursday.

Neither McGregor nor Lawrence was present in court on Thursday, though Hand did attend.

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Hand's civil case against McGregor began at Dublin's High Court on November 5 last year.

In the case, Hand alleged that McGregor and another man, James Lawrence, both had sex with her twice, without her consent, in a Dublin hotel on December 9, 2018.

McGregor and Lawrence denied the allegations against them, labeling Hand a "gold digger" and a "fraud."

On November 22, the Dublin jury ruled that McGregor had assaulted Hand but that Lawrence did not.

Hand was awarded damages of €188,603.60, plus €60,000, a total of €248,603.60. McGregor has additionally been ordered to pay Hand's legal costs, estimated at up to €1.5 million.

The former MMA fighter launched his appeal against the civil court's ruling in February.

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• Conor McGregor withdraws application for fresh evidence in civil rape case appeal

"This appeal has re-traumatized me over and over again," Hand told reporters after the Court of Appeals' decision on Thursday.

"Being forced to relive what happened has had a huge impact on me.

"To every survivor out there, I know how hard it is, but please, don't be silenced. You deserve to be heard. You also deserve justice.

"Today, I can finally move on and try to heal."

Hand thanked her legal team, the Rape Crisis Centre, the three judges, as well as her supporters.

Meanwhile, McGregor, who is also facing a sexual battery case in Miami, Florida, continues to float the idea of becoming Ireland's next President despite having no clear pathway to get on the ballot.