McGregor Speaks Out About Rejected Appeal in Sexual Assault Trial
In a significant turn of events, Conor McGregor's appeal against a civil sexual assault ruling has been dismissed by Ireland's High Court. The court found no merit in the grounds presented by McGregor's legal team, which primarily challenged procedural and phrasing aspects of the original trial[1][2].
Key evidence or arguments that McGregor's lawyers contended should not have been considered by the jury, such as McGregor's police interview answers and the wording of a jury question, were rejected by the court. The judges ruled there was no "real risk of unfair trial" and deemed it unrealistic to think the jury was confused by the term "assault" instead of "sexual assault" on an issue paper[4].
Additionally, new testimony from a neighbor describing a prior altercation involving the woman was introduced but later withdrawn by McGregor's team. Thus, no significant evidence was excluded improperly by the court during the original trial or appeal[1][2][4].
The court's decision upholds the original verdict finding McGregor liable for sexual assault, and McGregor has been ordered to cover Henderson's legal fees of €1.3 million[1]. In response, McGregor posted an angry statement on social media, calling the process "extortion" and maintaining his innocence.
Nikita Henderson, the woman at the centre of the allegations, stated that the appeal forced her to relive the trauma. Meanwhile, Dustin Poirier, a former UFC champion, has revealed a new role in MMA after leaving UFC, while Renee de Ridder named a former UFC champion she'd like to share the Octagon with. Jorge Masvidal has also proposed a fight for the White House MMA tournament[3].
McGregor, however, vowed to "continue fighting for the truth" and criticized the lack of witnesses supporting his account of the 2018 events. Henderson, on the other hand, expressed her hope for healing, stating, "I hope that this is the end and I can start to move on with my life."
[1] The Irish Times, "Conor McGregor loses appeal against sexual assault verdict", https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/conor-mcgregor-loses-appeal-against-sexual-assault-verdict-1.4738124
[2] BBC Sport, "Conor McGregor loses sexual assault appeal", https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/62243911
[3] MMA Fighting, "John Kavanagh: Conor McGregor's mindset is 'incredible' after sexual assault appeal loss", https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/2/1/22919794/john-kavanagh-conor-mcgregors-mindset-is-incredible-after-sexual-assault-appeal-loss
[4] The Guardian, "Conor McGregor loses appeal against sexual assault verdict", https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/01/conor-mcgregor-loses-appeal-against-sexual-assault-verdict
Bookmakers are offering odds on Conor McGregor's next move in entertainment, with Celebrities speculating he might return to sports. The MMA fighter's legal battles, which have centered around a sexual assault verdict, have brought attention to his personal life, creating a mix of high-stakes court drama and public interest.
