UFC celebrity Conor McGregor's civil rape charge appeal unsuccessful as judges entirely dismiss the case
In a significant development, Conor McGregor's appeal against a civil sexual assault ruling in Ireland's High Court has been dismissed. The High Court rejected all grounds of his appeal, upholding a previous jury verdict that found McGregor liable for sexually assaulting a woman named Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel room in December 2018.
The original civil case concluded in November 2024, with the jury ordering McGregor to pay €248,000 (approximately $257,000) in damages. The woman accused McGregor of forcing her onto a bed, choking her, and causing her to fear for her life; McGregor admitted to having consensual sex but denied it was forced or rough. He was never criminally prosecuted for the incident.
During the appeal, McGregor’s legal team presented new testimony from the woman’s neighbor, suggesting an alternative explanation for her injuries. However, this argument was withdrawn shortly before the appeal began. The courts found no merit in the appeal, which was comprehensively dismissed by three judges in Ireland’s Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal in Dublin found that McGregor's legal team did not prove "a real risk of unfair trial." McGregor's lawyers argued that a question on the "issue paper" given to the jury should have been worded differently, but the appeal judges said it was "simply unreal" to suggest any jury member was confused by the question. They also dismissed the argument that McGregor's answers to police during interviews should not have been put before the jury.
McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, has not competed in mixed martial arts since July 2021 due to a broken leg. Following this loss, it is unclear if he will appeal to Ireland’s Supreme Court or issue a public reaction. As of the latest reports, he was not present at the appeal hearing.
This civil ruling does not affect any criminal charges as none were filed related to this case. However, it could have implications for McGregor's future in the UFC. McGregor has expressed interest in fighting at a proposed UFC event at the White House in 2026, but this incident may impact his eligibility to compete.
[1] BBC News, "Conor McGregor found liable for sexual assault in civil case," 2024. [2] The Guardian, "Conor McGregor's sexual assault appeal dismissed by Irish court," 2025. [3] Sky Sports, "Conor McGregor's sexual assault appeal dismissed," 2025. [4] The Irish Times, "Conor McGregor ordered to pay €248,000 in damages for sexual assault," 2024. [5] Independent.ie, "Conor McGregor's sexual assault appeal dismissed in full by Court of Appeal," 2025.
- The dismissal of Conor McGregor's sexual assault appeal by Ireland's Court of Appeal has been extensively covered in general news outlets, including BBC News, The Guardian, Sky Sports, The Irish Times, and Independent.ie.
- Despite the dismissal of his sexual assault appeal, Conor McGregor, a former UFC champion, may face implications in the sports world, particularly in the UFC, where his potential eligibility to compete in a proposed 2026 event at the White House could be affected.
- While the civil ruling does not lead to any criminal charges, the dismissal of Conor McGregor's sexual assault appeal in the Court of Appeal in Dublin could have significant repercussions for both the general-news and crime-and-justice sectors, given the high-profile nature of the case.
