Conor McGregor Loses Appeal in Civil Rape Case, Ordered to Pay €248K in Damages
DUBLIN – Disgraced MMA fighter Conor McGregor has lost his appeal against a civil court ruling that found him liable for the rape and assault of hairdresser Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
On Thursday, the Irish Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s original decision, rejecting all five grounds on which McGregor had challenged the verdict.
The case stems from an alleged incident in the penthouse of the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford, where McGregor, 36, was accused of “brutally raping and battering” Ms. Hand, now 35. McGregor denied the allegations during the original three-week trial held in November last year, claiming the encounter was consensual.
However, a jury of eight women and four men found McGregor civilly liable for assault. The court awarded €248,603.60 in damages to Ms. Hand, along with an order for McGregor to pay an estimated €1.3 million in legal costs.
In the appeal, McGregor’s legal team attempted to introduce new evidence, including sworn affidavits from Samantha O’Reilly and her partner Steven Cummins—former neighbors of Ms. Hand in Drimnagh.
O’Reilly alleged she had seen Ms. Hand involved in a physical altercation with her then-partner around the same time as the incident at the Beacon Hotel. However, Ms. Hand denied any such event, calling the allegations “lies.”
In a dramatic reversal earlier this month, McGregor’s team withdrew this line of appeal, effectively discarding what they initially claimed was critical fresh evidence.
The remaining grounds of appeal focused on legal procedures and definitions used during the original trial:
- McGregor’s team argued that his “no comment” garda interviews should not have been admitted as evidence.
- They also challenged that the jury was asked to deliberate on the broader charge of “assault” instead of “sexual assault.”
However, the Court of Appeal ruled that these procedural issues did not invalidate the trial’s outcome, and dismissed McGregor’s attempt to overturn the verdict.
Throughout both the trial and appeal, McGregor has not appeared in court in person. His legal team has maintained his denial of any wrongdoing and previously indicated the intention to appeal to the Supreme Court of Ireland if necessary.
This appeal ruling deals a major legal and reputational blow to one of Ireland’s most high-profile athletes. While no criminal conviction has been secured against McGregor in this matter, the civil court’s finding of liability carries significant legal weight and public impact.
Prosecutors previously declined to pursue criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence to meet the high threshold required for criminal prosecution. However, the civil trial—based on the “balance of probabilities” rather than “beyond reasonable doubt”—ended with a damning outcome for the former UFC champion.
Ms. Hand has remained largely out of the public eye, but during the trial, her legal team emphasized the psychological and emotional toll the attack had taken on her. She expressed relief at the jury’s verdict and described the ruling as a form of justice.
With the appeal now closed, McGregor faces not only the substantial financial penalties but an enduring stain on his public image—already marred by a history of violent outbursts, criminal allegations, and controversial behavior both inside and outside the ring.
There has been no comment yet from McGregor or his representatives following the appeal decision. Legal experts suggest that, while a further appeal to the Supreme Court remains possible, it would face long odds without new or compelling legal grounds.
