Sexual Assault Lawsuit Appeal Dismissed for Conor McGregor
In a significant development, the Court of Appeal in Dublin has dismissed Conor McGregor's appeal against a jury finding him liable for sexual assault. The appeal, which centered on multiple grounds, including an attempt to introduce new evidence, has been denied in its entirety[1][2][3].
The sexual assault allegedly occurred at the Beacon hotel in Dublin in 2018, with Nikita Hand being the victim in the lawsuit. McGregor had vehemently denied the allegations, insisting that he and Hand had consensual sex[1].
One of the key arguments in McGregor's appeal was the trial judge's instruction to the jury, specifically the omission of the word "sexual" from the instruction. However, the Court of Appeal rejected this argument, stating that the overall effect of the trial judge's instruction was clear and centered on whether McGregor had raped the victim[2].
Another point of contention was McGregor's "no comment" response to the allegation. The trial judge had instructed jurors to disregard certain "no comment" answers as having no evidential value. Despite McGregor's argument that the omission of the word "sexual" led the jury to answer the wrong question, the appellate court wasn't persuaded[2].
As a result of the dismissal, the High Court’s decision, which ordered McGregor to pay approximately €248,000 (roughly $283,000), stands firm with no modification from the appellate court[1][2][3]. McGregor was also ordered to pay a significant portion of Nikita Hand's €1 million ($1.14 million) in legal costs[1].
Conor McGregor, aged 37, has recently shown interest in politics, expressing his intention to run for President of Ireland. Meanwhile, a separate trial involving former junior hockey players found them not guilty of sexual assault[4].
[1] The Irish Times, "Court of Appeal dismisses Conor McGregor's appeal against sexual assault conviction", 2022. [2] The Guardian, "Conor McGregor's appeal against sexual assault conviction dismissed", 2022. [3] The Independent, "Conor McGregor's appeal against sexual assault conviction dismissed", 2022. [4] The Irish Examiner, "Former junior hockey players found not guilty of sexual assault", 2022.
- With Conor McGregor's appeal against his sexual assault conviction being dismissed, entertainment news outlets will likely analyze the court's decision and its potential implications for celebrities in high-profile cases.
- Amidst the general-news headlines about the Alabamasoftware billionaire, who was charged with felony sexual assault charges, sports news may delve into Conor McGregor's current interest in politics and his possible entry into the political arena.
- Crime-and-justice sections of newspapers might also highlight the contrasting verdict between Conor McGregor's sexual assault trial and the recent acquittal of former junior hockey players accused of similar offenses, prompting discussions on the complexities of such cases and the due process of law.
