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Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Like his good friend Donald Trump, Conor McGregor rides out any scandal
When Conor McGregor was convicted of sucker-punching a man in a Dublin pub in 2019, he bought the pub and 'barred' his victim. Fast-forward to last week and he reportedly did not even need to lift a finger for the latest recipient of one of his left hooks to be thrown out of Ibiza's Pacha nightclub. It seems that whatever the crime or controversy, sooner or later the world's most infamous mixed martial arts fighter ends up coming out of it on top. Next week he could take major step in that direction when it comes to the most serious alleged offence committed by a man who has become the living embodiment of his nickname, 'The Notorious'. The Republic of Ireland's Court of Appeal is set to consider an application for new evidence to be introduced in his battle against a civil ruling that he raped Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. That ruling, delivered by a jury at the Irish capital's High Court in November, meant McGregor was ordered to pay the mother of one more than €248,000 (£206,000) in damages. McGregor, who faced no criminal charges over the alleged rape after prosecutors deemed there was 'no reasonable prospect of conviction', immediately announced his intention to appeal. That appeal was lodged in February, and it emerged in April that he was attempting to introduce new evidence alleging Hand had been assaulted by her then partner on the night McGregor was found to have raped her. The evidence has been provided by two former neighbours of Hand, one of whom has signed a sworn affidavit claiming to have seen her being punched after she returned home that evening. Hand, who told November's civil trial that McGregor had 'brutally raped and battered' her, signed an affidavit calling her neighbours' allegations 'lies'. Even if the Court of Appeal rules the new evidence inadmissible or refuses to quash last year's verdict, McGregor already appears to have found a way of emerging from it all remarkably unscathed. It all comes amid a burgeoning 'bromance' with the man who arguably laid out the blueprint for him to do so. McGregor was still awaiting his trial last year when Donald Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of a felony after being found guilty of 34 charges linked to hush-money payments made to ex-adult star Stormy Daniels. The verdict did not prevent Trump running for re-election and, weeks later, he survived a would-be assassin's bullet on the campaign trail. McGregor, who had caused a political earthquake at the end of 2023 by signalling his intention to run for the presidency of his own country, posted to his 10 million followers on X: 'A 78 year old multiple billionaire he should be on a yacht on the med touring golf courses. But he is not. He is in Pennsylvania spitting out bullets! Running for the love of his country! God speed Donald! God bless the United States.' Whether Trump saw the message or not, less than two months after McGregor's own court defeat, the Irishman was among the guests at the US president's second inauguration and also posed for a photograph with Nigel Farage at a pre-event rally. By the time Ireland's prime minister Micheal Martin visited the White House in the week leading up to St Patrick's Day, Trump was publicly singling out McGregor as his favourite Irishman. If that was embarrassing for the taoiseach, it became even more so on St Patrick's Day when McGregor was invited for an audience with Trump and seized a platform to spout anti-immigration rhetoric he had begun to voice in the preceding months and years. That had included in the build-up to a riot in Dublin in November 2023, which was triggered by the stabbing of three young children outside a primary school. McGregor posted on X: 'Innocent children ruthlessly stabbed by a mentally deranged non-national in Dublin, Ireland today. There is grave danger among us in Ireland that should never be here in the first place, and there has been zero action done to support the public in any way, shape or form with this frightening fact. NOT GOOD ENOUGH.' Following the riot, and facing accusations of incitement, McGregor said he did not condone the violence. His White House visit was followed by an announcement that he would run for the presidency of Ireland later this year. But despite previously being publicly endorsed by Elon Musk and claiming to have the support of Trump himself, McGregor faces what would appear insurmountable hurdles to becoming his own country's head of state. Under the current rules, candidates must garner the support of 20 Oireachtas (parliament) members, or the backing of four of Ireland's local authorities in order to stand. A recent Irish Times survey of 949 local councillors found not one of the 187 who responded said they would nominate him for the role. Stiofán Conaty, a Sinn Fein councillor from Cavan County Council, told the publication: 'No such pressure would ever influence me to even consider voting for that horrid man.' McGregor's presidential ambitions could hardly be further removed from his stance on politics a decade ago after he was criticised for wearing a Remembrance Day poppy. 'F--- politics and f--- religion,' he wrote on Twitter in October 2015. 'I just want to swing a few lefts and a few rights for a couple of hundred mill in peace.' Back then, McGregor was at the peak of his powers in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a five-year, 15-bout winning streak that included becoming the first man to hold championships in two weight classes simultaneously. Arguably the world's most recognisable MMA fighter, he was even named the following year as RTE Sports Person of the Year – Ireland's equivalent of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award. By then, McGregor had announced his retirement from UFC amid speculation about who would win in a fight between him and the world's best boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jnr. That planted the seed for a crossover boxing match between the pair on August 26, 2017, which became the second-highest-selling pay-per-view event in history. McGregor was beaten but, in reality, there were no losers from a fight in which he later said he earned 'around' $100 million. He went on to be ranked by Forbes as the world's fourth-highest-paid athlete on $99 million. The Mayweather fight also brought unprecedented public scrutiny on McGregor, who was accused of racism after telling his black opponent to, 'Dance for me, boy', during a promotional event. Mayweather later claimed McGregor had 'called black people monkeys' and had spoken 'disrespectfully to my mother and my daughter'. Responding on Instagram, McGregor wrote: 'Floyd Mayweather, don't ever bring race into my success again. I am an Irishman. My people have been oppressed our entire existence. And still very much are. I understand the feeling of prejudice. It is a feeling that is deep in my blood. In my family's long history of warfare there was a time where just having the name 'McGregor' was punishable by death. Do not ever put me in a bracket like this again …' Following the bout, McGregor looked likely to return to UFC before the end of the year. But plans were scrapped when he pushed a referee and slapped another official at a rival MMA event in Dublin, in which he was not even competing. The next day, the head of the commission for the event issued a statement accusing McGregor of having 'assaulted' the pair. McGregor apologised and UFC president Dana White later blamed his behaviour partly on his rapid rise to fame, branding his entourage 'cling-ons'. 'He's a young, rich kid who is a god in Ireland,' White said. 'That's not the healthiest environment either. When you make that kind of money, you're that famous and you're a professional athlete, you're gonna have an overload of cling-ons.' McGregor's MMA return was still on hold when, in April 2018, he was filmed in New York throwing a metal equipment dolly at the window of a bus carrying his UFC nemesis and heir apparent, Khabib Nurmagomedov. The window shattered, injuring two other fighters. White called the incident 'the most disgusting thing' in the history of the organisation. McGregor turned himself in to police and was charged with assault, criminal mischief and other crimes. He pleaded no contest to a count of disorderly conduct and was ordered to carry out five days of community service and attend anger-management classes. One of his victims, Michael Chiesa, later sued McGregor over his injuries. The case was settled out of court more than four years later. White's condemnation did not prevent him signing a six-fight deal for McGregor to return to the UFC, starting with a bout against new lightweight champion Nurmagomedov in October that year. McGregor was defeated and a brawl broke out afterwards that led to both men receiving lengthy bans and heavy fines. After defeating Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped out of the octagon and a brawl ensued 🎥 @AndreasHale d — SB Nation (@SBNation) October 7, 2018 It was during his six-month suspension that McGregor allegedly raped Hand and was arrested over accusations he stamped on a fan's phone in another incident caught on camera. The alleged victim in that case stopped cooperating with police and charges were later dropped. On March 26, McGregor announced his second retirement from MMA, hours before news broke that he was being investigated over his alleged rape of Hand. On April 6 came the Dublin pub attack in which McGregor punched Desmond Keogh for refusing an offer to sample the fighter's 'Proper No. Twelve' brand of whiskey. McGregor pleaded guilty to the assault in November that year and was fined €1,000. He also issued a public apology. However, when it was reported in April 2021 that McGregor had bought the Marble Arch pub where the incident had taken place, he reposted a link to the article saying: 'Ye and your mans barred.' Keogh told the Irish Mirror: 'I wouldn't want to be spending money in his pub to be honest.' That same month, McGregor and his business partners sold Proper No. Twelve for $600 million. The rape investigation and a further – denied – sexual assault allegation failed to prevent McGregor making what was a winning UFC comeback in January 2020. He retired again and, later that year, was arrested on the French island of Corsica on suspicion of attempted sexual assault and indecent exposure. He was released without charge and a police investigation into the denied claims was eventually dropped. Hand filed her civil lawsuit against McGregor in January 2021, days before what proved to be the fighter's final UFC comeback. He lost that bout, to Dustin Poirier, and a rematch in July. By then, Forbes had ranked him as the world's highest-paid athlete on $180 million following the sale of his whiskey brand. In October that year, McGregor was publicly accused by Italian DJ Francesco Facchinetti of breaking his nose in a nightclub in Rome. Facchinetti filed a criminal complaint but, as of today, no known action has been taken over an alleged incident McGregor has yet to comment on. The following July, McGregor held a birthday party on his yacht in Ibiza, after which a woman filed a complaint that he had physically assaulted her and that she had broken her arm jumping off the boat to escape him. McGregor denied the allegation and the woman later withdrew a lawsuit she had lodged against him. After making the allegations, her car was torched outside her home and a brick thrown through her window. During last year's civil rape proceedings against McGregor, it emerged that a gang of masked men had broken into Hand's home, smashed the windows and stabbed her boyfriend in the months leading up to the court case. There is no suggestion McGregor had any involvement in or prior knowledge of these incidents but, with him having 47 million followers on Instagram in addition to 10 million on X, they could indicate his supporters are prepared to go to extreme lengths to silence his accusers. McGregor is now facing another sexual assault lawsuit, filed in Florida in January this year over allegations – which he denies – of attempted rape during the NBA Finals in June 2023. Following a police investigation into the claims, prosecutors confirmed in October that McGregor would face no criminal charges. His alleged victim's lawsuit claims McGregor 'attempted to forcefully place his unprotected penis' into her mouth and anus without her consent. The claim was filed days before Trump's inauguration, but, like the verdict in November's civil case against him, did not prevent him attending or being invited to the White House in March. It has certainly not stopped his relentless campaigning for the presidency of Ireland. So, when footage emerged last week of him punching someone to the floor of Pacha during his latest trip to Ibiza, it hardly came as a surprise that his victim was apparently ejected and he was allowed to carry on as if nothing had happened.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Mediahuis journalists win top honours at the Justice Media Awards
Almost 140 journalists gathered at the Law Society of Ireland for the announcement of the awards' winners. Mark Tighe of the Sunday Independent and Marie Crowe of RTÉ won the inaugural award in the Print-Online Journalism Feature category for their joint investigation on 'Field of Broken Dreams'. The judges described it as a 'superb two-and-a-half-year investigation highlighting the mistreatment and wrongs made against women footballers who suffered in silence', adding it was a 'standout entry' and a 'deserving winner'. Mr Tighe and Ms Crowe along with RTÉ Investigates director Frank Shouldice also scooped the merit certificate in the Human Rights and Social Justice Reporting Broadcast category for their 'Girls in Green' investigation. The Irish Independent special correspondent Catherine Fegan was awarded three merit certificates. In the Print and Online Journalism Daily category, she was awarded for her reporting 'Taking Back the Power' – in which three survivors of rape tell of their tough decision to waive their right to anonymity so the perpetrators could be named. Ms Fegan was awarded in the Human Rights and Social Justice Reporting in Print and Online for 'School abuse victims demand justice: I didn't talk to anyone about it. I just carried it all inside', and also won in the Court Reporting Print and Online category for her piece 'Nikita Hand v Conor McGregor: The Moment the Mask Slipped'. The Irish Independent legal affairs editor Shane Phelan was awarded a merit certificate for his 'Key factors that may have swayed the jury in Nikita Hand case against Conor McGregor' in the Court Reporting Print and Online category. In the Print and Online Journalism Sunday category, Sunday Independent journalist Ali Bracken claimed a merit certificate for her reporting 'Conviction of James Kilroy for murdering his wife Valerie French is not the end of the legal road for the French family'. There were also two merit certificates won by the Irish Independent podcasts in the Broadcast Journalism Podcast category. The Indo Daily team, including Garrett Mulhall, Fionnán Sheahan, Robin Schiller, Carlo Salizzo, Ian Doyle, Hugh Keenan, and Rory Bowens, were awarded for the episode titled 'Wanted: Gardaí release images of 99 Dublin riot suspects, is it a worrying precedent?' Meanwhile, Mr Tighe and Joe Molloy of the Indo Sport were awarded for the Indo Sport's episode called 'Nikita Hand wins David and Goliath case against Conor McGregor'. Former Irish Independent journalist Ellen Coyne also won a merit certificate for her reporting on 'Domestic violence victims forced into homelessness by lack of refuge spaces' in the Human Rights and Social Justice Reporting in Print and Online category. President of the Law Society Eamon Harrington said: 'The record-breaking number of entries this year shows that the standard of Irish legal journalism remains incredibly high. 'As journalists across the world continue to face threats, it is more important than ever to recognise and support responsible journalism, and those who produce it.'
BreakingNews.ie
26-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Public expressed outrage at Conor McGregor's meeting with Donald Trump
Members of the public expressed their anger at Conor McGregor's St Patrick's Day meeting with US president Donald Trump in messages to Taoiseach Micheál Martin. The vast majority of messages were critical of McGregor, with many accusing the UFC fighter of "hijacking our identity". Advertisement Mr Martin met the US president on March 12th, and the Government was blindsided by McGregor's St Patrick's Day trip to the White House, in which he made a number of unfounded claims about immigration into Ireland. Claims McGregor made about crime levels in Dublin were also found to be from a discredited 'study' published by an online gambling company. In messages to the Taoiseach, seen by after a Freedom of Information request, people expressed anger at McGregor's White House appearance. At 10.15pm on March 17th, one email to Mr Martin read: "You did a great job on your recent visit to the White House, congratulations on your diplomacy, but I'm furious with that clown (and I'm being generous) McGregor hijacking our identity." Advertisement The email continued: "He doesn't speak for us, please don't let this go!" In messages to Taoiseach Micheál Martin, members of the public expressed anger over Conor McGregor's White House meeting with Donald Trump. The majority of the emails referred to the legal action in which a jury found McGregor civilly liable in a case taken by a woman who accused him of rape. Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ní Laimhín (35), was awarded damages and costs after a three-week trial last year in which the jury found him civilly liable for assault. A judge at the High Court in Dublin later said the jury had 'conclusively determined' that McGregor had raped Ms Hand in the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford on December 9th, 2018 . McGregor is appealing against the outcome. Advertisement A lengthy email addressed to Mr Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris read: "First, the invitation extended to Enoch Burke's family, and now, the carefully orchestrated elevation of Conor McGregor to take centre stage on St Patrick's Day. It is clear now that your meeting with president Trump was deliberately scheduled for the 12th, ensuring that McGregor would be given the international platform on the 17th in your absence. "Allowing him to speak as if he represents us, he insulted not just those of us in Ireland, but the 75+ million people worldwide who hold their Irish heritage close to their hearts. This was not a misstep or unfortunate oversight, it was deliberate, calculated, and a disgrace. I urge you both, Taoiseach and Tánaiste, to draw the line now. To stand up, not just as a diplomat, but as an Irish leader with dignity. I fully understand the necessity of diplomacy, but at what cost?" McGregor does not define Ireland. The author called on the Government to address McGregor's appearance directly with Mr Trump. "McGregor does not define Ireland. Musk does not define Ireland. Trump does not define Ireland. But if we allow these insults to go unchecked, we risk losing control over who gets to represent us. I sincerely hope that you will not let this moment pass without a clear, public statement condemning what has happened. We may be a small country, but we are a proud and dignified one, and that should count for something." Advertisement Another email criticised Mr Martin for not stepping in when Mr Trump praised McGregor during their White House meeting on March 12th. Speaking in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said: 'I do happen to like your fighter.' 'He's got the best tattoos I've ever seen,' he said, referring to Mr McGregor. 'Conor's great, right. But you have a lot of great Irish fighters actually, great fighters," Mr Trump continued, before moving on to ask the Taoiseach about his father's boxing career. Advertisement Two messages expressed support for McGregor's views on immigration. "Regarding the recent coverage of Conor McGregor's visit to the White House, the three of you have been quick to criticise him, insisting that he does not speak for Ireland. You are wrong. While his visit and remarks were self-initiated, a significant portion of the Irish public agrees with his message far more than agree with any of you, even combined." One person wrote: "Before you dismiss me as just another critic, understand this: I have financially contributed to each of your parties multiple times, up to the maximum €600 per donation, and considerably more to Leo Varadkar before I saw through him. I have stood in social settings with each of you, exchanged words, and am someone you are all comfortable speaking to in your own circles. "The fact that the President of the United States chose to engage with McGregor rather than with career politicians like yourselves should be a wake-up call. Instead of sounding weak, jealous, and desperate in your attempts to discredit him, perhaps you should reflect on why he commands the support of both the Irish people and the US President, while your own standing continues to erode." World President Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin 'has go... Read More One person praised Mr Martin and Mr Harris for their response to McGregor's meeting with Mr Trump. "I am particularly proud of the way both you and Simon Harris have responded to what happened yesterday with Conor McGregor- you are right, he does not speak for me. Thank you for being so clear and unequivocal about it." Another person wrote: "I firmly believe that by inviting McGregor to the White House for St Patrick's Day, Donald Trump and his team have deliberately undermined you, the Irish government and more so the Irish public. "While I understand the importance of 'playing politics' there has to come a point where we stop kowtowing to our supposed friends in America especially if they're welcoming our convicted criminals into the White House."
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Twelve nominations for Irish Independent and Sunday Independent journalists for Justice Media Awards
Awarded by the Law Society of Ireland, the Justice Media Awards are the longest-running media awards in the country and recognise the highest standards of excellence in legal journalism. Special Correspondent Catherine Fegan has received three nominations across as many categories, the first for her story speaking to survivors of sexual abuse, who told of the difficult decision to waive their anonymity so the perpetrators could be named. She has also been shortlisted for her coverage of the civil rape case brought against MMA fighter Conor McGregor, where a jury found he assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018 and ordered him to pay almost €250,000 in damages. The headline of her article read: 'Nikita Hand v Conor McGregor: The moment the mask slipped.' McGregor is currently attempting to appeal the High Court civil jury finding. Ms Fegan has also been nominated in the human rights and social justice reporting category for her story speaking to survivors of abuse at schools about the trauma they faced and their fight for justice. Legal Affairs Editor Shane Phelan has been shortlisted for his coverage of the key factors that may have swayed the jury in Nikita Hand's case against Conor McGregor in the court reporting category. Sunday Independent journalist Mark Tighe received his first of three nominations for his story on 'how one woman took on the world's most 'notorious' fighter and triumphed'. He was also nominated alongside Joe Molloy and the Indo Sport podcast team for their podcast episode 'Nikita Hand wins David and Goliath case against Conor McGregor'. Mr Tighe and RTÉ Investigates' Marie Crowe have been nominated for their joint investigation 'Field of Broken Dreams', in which multiple female footballers claimed they were subjected to unwanted or inappropriate sexual advances from FAI coaches in the 1990s. ADVERTISEMENT Ireland Editor Fionnán Sheahan has been nominated for his coverage of a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) independent investigation surrounding it's director general Professor Philip Nolan. He has also been nominated alongside the Indo Daily podcast team in the podcast category for their episode ''Wanted': Gardaí release images of 99 Dublin riot suspects, is it a worrying precedent?', which was released last November. News correspondent Ellen Coyne has been shortlisted in the human rights and social justice reporting category for her coverage of how domestic violence victims are forced into homelessness by a lack of refuge spaces. Sunday Independent journalist Ali Bracken has received two nods in total, including for her story about assault victim Natasha O'Brien as she prepared to return to court to face her attacker and for the legal road still faced by the family of Valerie French in the years after her husband James Kilroy was convicted of her murder.
Irish Times
16-05-2025
- Irish Times
Conor McGregor's appeal over civil rape case outcome ready to proceed in July
Conor McGregor's appeal against a High Court civil jury finding in favour of Nikita Hand, who alleged he raped her in a Dublin hotel, is ready to proceed in July, a judge was told today. Ms Hand has described as 'lies' claims in an affidavit by Samantha O'Reilly, a former neighbour of hers, that bruising on her body which she alleges was caused by Mr McGregor in the Beacon hotel on December 9th 2018 may have been caused following an alleged row between Ms Hand and her then partner in their home hours later. In a responding affidavit, Ms Hand said her then partner, Stephen Redmond, did not assault her on the night of December 9th/10th 2018 'and never assaulted me in the course of our relationship or since'. She and Mr Redmond had had a verbal argument downstairs in their house that night, a recording of which was played during the High Court case, but that was not so loud that Ms O'Reilly could have heard it, she also said. READ MORE She did not want to speculate on why Ms O'Reilly and her partner Steven Cummins 'are making up these lies' about events on that night, Ms Hand said. Mr McGregor wants to have affidavits from Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins admitted for his appeal against the civil jury finding last November in favour of Ms Hand. The jury awarded her almost €250,000 damages. During a case management hearing on Friday, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan was told by Shelley Horan, for Mr McGregor, the appeal was on track on proceed on July 1st and her side's submissions would be filed later on Friday. When the judge was told by counsel for Ms Hand her side were still considering whether to seek an affidavit from Mr Redmond, the judge said he would give them seven days to provide any such affidavit. The appeal court will decide, during the full hearing of the appeal, whether the affidavits from Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins, sworn last January, are admissible. Ms O'Reilly has alleged that, on the night of December 9th/10th 2018, she had observed from the upstairs window of her house a row between Ms Hand and Mr Redmond. Ms O'Reilly had said she inferred, from movements of Ms Hand's body, that Mr Redmond had assaulted her on the ground and this explained the bruising on her body seen the next day. The mixed martial arts fighter had persistently denied he assaulted Ms Hand and claims the new material came into his possession after the High Court case and provides a 'plausible' explanation for bruising on Ms Hand's body. The extensive bruising seen on Ms Hand's body when she was examined by a doctor in the Rotunda hospital the day after her encounter with Mr McGregor in the hotel was significant evidence in the High Court case. Gardaí also took photos of the bruising on Tuesday December 11th 2018. Mr McGregor's grounds of appeal are wide-ranging, including claims over the conduct of the 12-day High Court hearing by Mr Justice Alexander Owens. Some grounds focus on whether the trial judge erred in directing the jury be asked to answer whether or not Mr McGregor 'assaulted' Ms Hand rather than whether or not he had 'sexually assaulted' her. In evidence to the High Court, Ms Hand, a 36-year-old mother of one, said she told Mr McGregor she did not want to have intercourse with him, she felt uncomfortable, but he 'would not take no for an answer'. She was wearing a tampon at the time and would not have sex during her period, she said. Mr McGregor denied rape and said he and Ms Hand had 'fully consensual', 'vigorous', 'athletic' sex. He said he was shocked when later shown photos of bruising on Ms Hand, he had not caused them and there was no tampon. When charging the jury, Mr Justice Owens told them if a person proves they were subject by another person to non-consensual sexual activity, that is the tort [a civil wrong causing harm or loss leading to legal liability] of assault. The jury found James Lawrence (35), of Rafter's Road, Drimnagh, had not assaulted Ms Hand through allegedly having sex with her without her consent in the Beacon hotel. Mr Lawrence's appeal against the trial judge's refusal to order Ms Hand to pay his legal costs of the trial will be heard alongside Mr McGregor's appeal.
