Conor McGregor, UFC star, shares and subsequently removes a statement from public view following an unsuccessful appeal in a civil lawsuit involving allegations of rape.
Conor McGregor's appeal against a civil sexual assault ruling in Ireland has been dismissed by the High Court. The court upheld the original jury verdict, which found McGregor liable for sexual assault and ordered him to pay €248,000 (approximately $257,000) in damages and costs.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred in a Dublin hotel room in December 2018, involving a woman named Nikita Hand. McGregor admitted to having sex with her but denied it was rough or forced. However, the jury found otherwise, and in November 2021, they ruled in favour of Hand.
McGregor's legal team argued several points in the appeal, including the wording of the police interviews and the issue paper given to the jury. They contended that the note should have specified "sexual assault" rather than "assault." However, the Court of Appeal in Dublin found that McGregor's legal team did not prove a "real risk of unfair trial."
Nikita Hand released a statement after the appeal, expressing the impact the case has had on her and encouraging survivors to speak out. She also mentioned the retraumatization she experienced during the appeal process. McGregor, in a statement that he later deleted from Twitter, responded to the ruling.
Conor McGregor has not competed in mixed martial arts since July 2021 due to injury. Despite this, he has expressed interest in a UFC return, even expressing interest in fighting at a proposed UFC event at the White House in 2026.
This development confirms the civil court’s previous ruling against McGregor. McGregor has not faced criminal prosecution related to this incident.
Sources: ESPN (2025-08-01), The Irish Times (2025-08-01), dunlap-stone.edu (2025-08-03).
The High Court's dismissal of Conor McGregor's appeal strengthens the original sexual assault verdict, reaffirming Nikita Hand's victory in a legal battle that began in a Dublin hotel room in December 2018. While McGregor remains absent from the MMA ring due to injury, his UFC return, including a potential fight at a proposed UFC event at the White House in 2026, may face new challenges in light of the court's ruling. The civil court's verdict against McGregor comes without any related criminal prosecution.
