Conor McGregor Ordered to Pay €250,000 in Damages After Assault Verdict

A jury in Dublin, Ireland, has ordered UFC star Conor McGregor to pay €250,000 ($259,950) in damages after it found him responsible for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand at a party in 2018. The verdict was reached after several hours of deliberation in a civil trial at Ireland's High Court. The jury, which included eight women and four men, ruled that McGregor assaulted Hand at a party on December 9, 2018, while another man, James Lawrence, was cleared of any involvement in the alleged assault.

Hand had claimed that McGregor took her to a penthouse party in south Dublin following a work Christmas event, where alcohol and drugs were consumed. She alleged that McGregor sexually assaulted her in a bedroom. Hand’s lawyer presented medical evidence during the trial, including photographs of injuries taken after the incident, which were reportedly so concerning that a doctor referred her to a sexual assault treatment unit the following day.

McGregor, who denied the accusation, insisted that the sexual encounter was fully consensual and rejected claims that he caused bruising to Hand. After the verdict, McGregor did not speak to reporters and left the court under heavy media scrutiny. He later announced his intention to appeal the decision on social media.

Following the trial, Hand expressed her gratitude for the support she received throughout the process and encouraged other victims of sexual assault to speak out. "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," she said.

Photo: Reuters