Nikita Hand wins civil case in opposition to MMA star

A lady who accused Conor McGregor of raping her has received her declare in opposition to him for damages in a civil case.

A jury discovered that the Irish combined martial arts fighter assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin lodge in December 2018.

He has been ordered to pay her greater than €248,000 (£206,000) in damages.

Talking exterior the court docket on Friday, Ms Hand mentioned her story was “a reminder that irrespective of how afraid you is likely to be to talk up, you have got a voice”.

In a publish on X on Friday night, McGregor mentioned he would attraction in opposition to the decision and he thanked “all my help worldwide”.

“I’m with my household now, centered on my future” he added.

The jury on the Excessive Courtroom in Dublin had been deliberating for a day earlier than returning its verdict that McGregor did assault Ms Hand.

She had additionally taken a case in opposition to one other man, James Lawrence, 35, of Rafter’s Highway, Drimnagh in Dublin.

She alleged that he assaulted her by having intercourse along with her with out her consent within the Beacon Lodge.

The jury discovered that he didn’t assault her.

Ms Hand informed reporters mentioned she was “overwhelmed and touched” by the help she had obtained.

She added: “I need to present [my daughter] Freya and each different younger woman and boy that you would be able to get up for your self if one thing occurs to you, irrespective of who the individual is, and that justice will probably be served.”

Each males had denied the claims by the 35-year-old hair colourist and mentioned they individually had consensual intercourse with Ms Hand on the lodge nearly six years in the past.

After eight days of proof and three days listening to closing speeches and the choose’s feedback, the jury of eight ladies and 4 males spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating earlier than returning with its verdict.

McGregor shook his head after the jury learn out that Ms Hand had received her case in opposition to him.

He was accompanied by his accomplice Dee Devlin, his mother and father, his sister and his brother-in-law.

He sat within the again row of the court docket, between his accomplice and mom Margaret.

Ms Hand cried and was hugged by her accomplice and supporters.

The jury had beforehand heard that on the day of the assault Ms Hand and her colleague Danielle Kealy went to the lodge’s penthouse suite with McGregor and Mr Lawrence after their work Christmas celebration.

They gave proof of how that they had been partying all evening from 8 December into the morning of 9 December and had been closely consuming and taking cocaine.

Ms Hand, a mother-of-one, informed the court docket how McGregor had pinned her to a mattress earlier than assaulting her.

She was left with in depth bruises and abrasions over her physique, together with on her palms and wrists.

There was a bloodied scratch on her breast and tenderness on her neck after she mentioned she was positioned in a “chokehold” by McGregor.

He denied inflicting the bruising, saying it might have occurred after she “swan dived” into the bathtub within the lodge room.

Ms Hand was taken in an ambulance to the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin the following day the place she was assessed within the sexual assault remedy unit.

A paramedic who examined Ms Hand informed the court docket that she had not seen “somebody so bruised” in a very long time.

The jury had been informed how Ms Hand needed to depart her job as a hairdresser and has not been in a position to work since on account of her psychological well being, that her relationship along with her accomplice ended months after the incident, that she needed to transfer out of her dwelling in Drimnagh and that her mortgage was now in arrears.

She additionally mentioned she needed to cease seeing a counsellor as a result of she might not afford to pay for the periods.

The court docket heard that she had spent greater than €4,000 (£3,326) on GP, pharmacy and psychotherapy prices.