Conor McGregor appeals Nikita Hand civil rape case verdict

Irish Daily Mirror

19 hours ago

Conor McGregor's appeal against a High Court civil jury finding in favour of Nikita Hand is set to begin today.
Last November, Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against McGregor after accusing the professional fighter of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
Ms Hand, 35, was awarded damages and costs after a three-week trial in which the jury found him civilly liable for assault.
McGregor faced an accusation that he 'brutally raped and battered' Ms Hand at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.
The sportsman told the court last November he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel in south Dublin.
The court heard that Ms Hand was taken in an ambulance to the Rotunda Hospital the following day where she was assessed in the sexual assault treatment unit (SATU).
A paramedic who examined Ms Hand the day after the assault had told the court she had not seen 'someone so bruised' in a long time.
Ms Hand broke down several times as she gave evidence for almost three days.
The jury had been told Ms Hand had to leave her job as a hairdresser and has not been able to work since because of her mental health, that her relationship with her partner ended months after the incident, she had to move out of her home in Drimnagh, and her mortgage is now in arrears.
After eight days of evidence and three days listening to closing speeches and the judge's charge, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before returning their verdict.
The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was €248,603.60.
Speaking outside court after the verdict, Ms Hand said she hoped her case would remind victims of assault to keep 'pushing forward for justice'.
Conor McGregor's appeal over the civil rape guilty veridct is due to start at approximately 10.30am.
Conor McGregor will appeal the decision to award a woman almost €250,000 after the UFC star was found liable of assaulting her in a hotel.
Nikita Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a High Court civil case. Following eight days of evidence and three days listening to closing speeches and the judge's charge, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before returning with its verdict.
Read the full story here.
Dee Devlin has shared a number of loved up posts with Conor McGregor on social media as the couple enjoy a family holiday in the Mediterranean.
The UFC star and his fiancée are holidaying on their luxury yacht off the coast of Majorca with their four children. In a series of posts on her Instagram story, Devlin can be seen sunbathing alongside McGregor on a beach, while others show them doing a number of stretches, swimming and enjoying a BBQ on the yacht.
She also shared old footage of the couple hugging and kissing, including inside the octagon after some of the former two-weight UFC champion's biggest victories.
Nikita Hand is set to take the witness stand on Tuesday as Conor McGregor launches his appeal of a jury's finding that he assaulted her.
Ms Hand is understood to be attending a two-day appeal hearing before the High Court this week, and will refute "new evidence" put forward by the UFC fighter.
Former neighbours of Ms Hand, ­Samantha O'Reilly and Steven ­Cummins, will give evidence and be cross-examined by her lawyers at the hearing on Tuesday morning.