Professional MMA fighter Conor McGregor removes a statement on a social media platform following an unsuccessful appeal in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault.
Conor McGregor's appeal against a civil sexual assault verdict, which found him liable for assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel room in 2018, has been dismissed by Ireland's High Court in late July 2025.
The original civil case jury had awarded damages of nearly €250,000 (approximately $283,000) to Hand, after finding McGregor responsible for the sexual assault. The High Court's dismissal of the appeal means that McGregor is now required to pay the awarded damages, in addition to costs.
McGregor's legal team argued that there was a risk of an unfair trial and contested the jury instructions. However, these arguments were dismissed by the three judges who found no merit in these claims. The legal team also asserted that a question on the "issue paper" given to the jury should have been worded differently.
Interestingly, McGregor's legal team withdrew an argument based on new testimony that aimed to cast doubt on aspects of the assault, shortly before the appeal hearing.
The appeal judges stated that it was "simply unreal" to suggest any jury member was confused by the question. The High Court ruled against McGregor and dismissed the appeal on all grounds.
It is important to note that this decision does not mean that the legal process may not potentially continue, as this decision could be further appealed to the Supreme Court of Ireland.
McGregor has not faced criminal charges related to the incident. In his last Octagon appearance, McGregor suffered a broken leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier. Since July 2021, he has not competed in mixed martial arts.
Following the dismissal, McGregor posted a public statement on social media, which he later deleted. The public reactions and legal commentary highlight the significant stakes and ongoing public attention on the case.
[1] The Irish Times: "Conor McGregor's appeal against civil sexual assault verdict dismissed" [2] BBC News: "Conor McGregor's sexual assault appeal dismissed" [3] Sky News: "Conor McGregor's sexual assault appeal dismissed by High Court" [4] The Guardian: "Conor McGregor's sexual assault appeal dismissed by High Court"
- The dismissal of Conor McGregor's appeal against the civil sexual assault verdict has garnered extensive news coverage, with headlines appearing on various entertainment, general-news, and crime-and-justice outlets such as The Irish Times, BBC News, Sky News, and The Guardian.
- As a result of his High Court appeal being dismissed, Conor McGregor is now legally obligated to pay the nearly €250,000 in damages and additional costs to Nikita Hand, the plaintiff in the original civil case.
- Despite the dismissal of his appeal, Conor McGregor's legal predicament continues to capture the public's attention in various spheres, including MMA news, with discussions about potential further appeals, his social media reactions, and their implications for his career in the sports industry.
