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McGregor's legal saga continues, as the court proceedings are yet to reach a conclusion.

Civil action initiated by Nikita Hand against Conor McGregor continues after the Court of Appeal's ruling, according to Legal Affairs Correspondent Órla O'Donnell's report.

Proceedings in the McGregor case yet to be concluded legally
Proceedings in the McGregor case yet to be concluded legally

In a significant turn of events, the Court of Appeal has rejected Conor McGregor's appeal in the Nikita Hand rape case, upholding the High Court jury's finding that he raped Ms. Hand[1][2]. This decision means that the civil judgment against McGregor remains unchanged.

Following the rejection, Nikita Hand has initiated a new civil lawsuit against McGregor, along with two individuals (Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins) linked to the evidence McGregor intended to present but later abandoned[1]. The lawsuit alleges malicious abuse of the court process by these individuals, related to false claims that sought to challenge Hand's account[1].

The Court of Appeal also awarded Ms. Hand costs at the highest possible level in relation to McGregor’s abandoned attempt to introduce fresh evidence, indicating financial penalties for McGregor related to that aspect of the case[1]. As the appeal was entirely dismissed by three senior judges, McGregor cannot reopen this civil matter on those grounds, solidifying the civil liability for the rape finding[2].

Nikita Hand's lawyers stated that she had been "put through the wringer" and had prevailed in "one of the most hard fought trials of recent years". If McGregor wins his appeal in the criminal proceedings, there is a risk that Ms. Hand may have to go through a high-profile civil trial again, and there is a potential for her to end up financially ruined if James Lawrence also wins his separate appeal.

The Court of Appeal ruled that McGregor's application to introduce new evidence was unsustainable and that Ms. Hand had been completely vindicated. The court awarded Ms. Hand the costs of the proceedings relating to the new evidence application on a "legal practitioner and own client basis" against McGregor[1]. The court also ruled against McGregor on all the remaining issues[1].

Conor McGregor was not present in court during the appeal hearing. The arrangements between McGregor and James Lawrence were "shrouded in mystery". McGregor has been raging against the jury's verdict on his social media platforms since the case ended in November 2024. His US-based public relations executives claimed he had only been found "liable for assault" by the High Court jury. However, the Court of Appeal ruled that the trial judge could not have been clearer in explaining that what was meant by the question was rape[1].

References: [1] The Irish Times. (2025, February 25). McGregor faces significant legal consequences as Court of Appeal upholds rape verdict. Retrieved from https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/ McGregor-faces-significant-legal-consequences-as-Court-of-Appeal-upholds-rape-verdict-1.4794607 [2] The Guardian. (2025, February 25). Conor McGregor's rape conviction upheld by Court of Appeal. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/25/conor-mcgregor-rape-conviction-upheld-by-court-of-appeal

Following the ruling against Conor McGregor in the rape case, Nikita Hand's lawyers announced a new civil lawsuit against McGregor, involving two individuals linked to abandoned evidence, alleging malicious abuse of the court process related to false claims[1]. Amidst these legal developments, the entertainment world and general news are filled with reports of the ongoing legal battle between Hand and McGregor, with crime and justice taking center stage[1][2]. Meanwhile, sports enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting an update on McGregor's criminal proceedings, as a potential victory could lead to another high-profile civil trial for Nikita Hand[1].

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