Former UFC champion Conor McGregor lost his high-profile sex*al assault civil case on Friday. A Dublin High Court jury even awarded โThe Notoriousโ some notorious financial damages. The civil lawsuit was over the now-proven assault ofย Nikita Ni Lamhainย (Hand) in 2018. But donโt expect the Irishman to cut any checks, hat in hand, just yet.
A Dublin jury on Friday found McGregor guilty of assaulting Nikita Hand in December 2018. She claimed that McGregor and another man, James Lawrence, had sex with her without her consent in a drunken state and amid alleged nose-blows. According toย Irish Mirror (@IrishMirror) media journo Paul Healy, the plantiff snagged an upward of โฌ248,000 in damages (ยฃ206,000 /$260,000 all-in). Naturally, Conor McGregor had stuff to air on it.
โ MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 22, 2024
Thankfully enough, this wasnโt yet another defunct X spree or voiceover, but rather for the world to see his alleged innocence. The jury had at their disposal a question paper with two questions as a record of the juryโs decision. The first question was โDid Mr. McGregor assault Ms Hand?โ The second question was โDid Mr. Lawrence assault Ms Hand?โ Members had to answer โyesโ or โnoโ. McGregor and Lawrence made a concerted effort to have Lawrence take the fall, Handโs lawyer said.
I will be appealing today’s decision. The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future.โฆ
โ Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 22, 2024
Hand sought damages of $1.79-$2.13 million but was content that her daughter Freya and others could see justice did prevail. He did not get any aggravated or exemplary damages; neither were full criminal charges pursued by Nikita Ni Lamhainย (Hand). But the stock into โConor McGregorโ falls deeply down. In the discourse of all this, โONEโ particular legend weighed in with a quick word on the matter.
Sympathy on the wane, Demetrious Johnson gives scathing three-word take on Conor McGregor
Nikita Ni Lamhainย (Hand) faced PTSD as her home was broken into and her partner stabbed earlier this year, in retaliation to the claims on the Irish icon. Thereโs new chances that sheโd be in the crosshairs yet again. Even Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh has offered the full support to Nikita Hand and the pursuit of justice.
With McGregor calling foul even with his unhinged demeanor and habitual vices, thereโs just more and more empathy on the accuser. Conor McGregor might appeal the fallout all he wants to. But for now, his fame takes a major hit. As for his peers, legendary ex-UFC flyweight Demetrious Johnson had a โMightyโ but straight-as-arrow take on it all.
Shame on him
โ Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouse) November 22, 2024
โ Luke Thomas๐๏ธโโ๏ธ (@lthomasnews) November 22, 2024
The woman who won her civil r*pe case against Conor McGregor had to move house this year after a group of men wearing balaclavas stabbed her partner and broke her windows
This was not brought up during the trial as the judge deemed it โcompletely irrelevantโ
(via @rtenews) pic.twitter.com/qEPPmzdtKi
โ ACD MMA (@acdmma_) November 22, 2024
This is unlike the more rough take by UFC rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. In 2019, โEagleโ blatantly labeled him an assaulter, open on social media. However, it still does mark quite a fall from grace. For now, Conor McGregor states heโll focus on the โfutureโ. Said future could include a return to the Octagon in late 2025.
Appeals to the High Court, particularly in civil cases, must be lodged within 28 days of perfection (the clerkโs signature) in order to be considered. Undoubtedly, McGregorโs high-priced lawyers are already prepping their arguments for round two. Expect more to come out of this in the upcoming days.
Realted: Conor McGregor sees โno reason to come backโ to UFC; shocking statement hasย fansย worried