Irish mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor was found guilty of sexual assault. He must pay a fine of 250 thousand Euros. Since the case was a civil case, criminal prosecution and possible actual imprisonment were out of the question.
“I will appeal today’s verdict. The judge’s verdict and modest award were for assault, not criminal mischief. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence considered by the prosecution. I will stay close to my family and focus on the future. Thank you to everyone who supported me,” he wrote. the athlete wrote on his social networks, denying his guilt from the very beginning.
What happened
It all happened almost six years ago, in December 2018, when McGregor picked up his longtime acquaintance Nikita Hand and her friend in a car after a Christmas party. He and Hand lived in the same area, had known each other for a long time, and had previously communicated through social networks.
According to the victim’s statement, McGregor took them to his home and left for 15 minutes, returning with a bag of drugs. The company was also joined by another MMA fighter and friend of Conor, James Lawrence, who eventually became a defendant in the case.
The group went to a hotel in the Sandyford area of Dublin and continued the night there. Everything happened there. According to Hand, McGregor asked her for sex, but she refused.
Later, the fighter, who did not accept this, attacked the girl, started strangling her and finally raped her.
“You will see pictures of his hands and wrists being blue and swollen. You will see that there is a bleeding scratch on his left chest. The scratch was caused by Conor wearing a watch and raising his hands to protect himself. The plaintiff’s attorney, John Gordon, told the jury at trial that the watch left a scar on his chest.
“Then Mr. McGregor turned him over, grabbed his arm and lifted it up by his neck. He couldn’t breathe, but he did it again. He gave up the third time because he couldn’t resist any longer. He said of the process: “Now you know what it’s like to be in the Octagon.” “He was terrified at the time but accepted what was about to happen – a brutal and merciless attack.”
McGregor’s side has denied all allegations of assault and violence. The defendant’s lawyer stated that the sexual intercourse was in fact crude but consensual.
It was alleged that Hand blackmailed the Irishman and demanded 1 million Euros in compensation from him so that the case would not continue.
The plaintiff stated that he could not return to work due to post-traumatic stress disorder and suffered psychological problems.
Refusal to prosecute
After the incident, Hand first went to his home and then to the hospital. The woman recorded the beating and contacted law enforcement, and McGregor was taken into custody but released after questioning. The file was transferred to the prosecutor’s office, but after a two-year trial, it was closed due to lack of evidence. Thus, the Irish warrior was freed from criminal liability.
Hand did not settle and filed a civil lawsuit for personal injury in January 2021. Proceedings in the Irish Supreme Court began in November 2024.
John Lawrence testified that he and the victim had consensual sexual intercourse on two occasions, and the Irish Mirror showed footage of Lawrence and Hand interacting nicely and actually showing mutual sympathy.
The victim himself testified in court that he did not remember this, and his lawyer accused McGregor of trying to put all the blame on his friends.
Lawrence also stated that Hand did not appear upset, except that she was cheating on her boyfriend, with whom she was in a relationship at the time and already had a child.
McGregor became a father six months before the incident. He also came to the hearing with his wife, Dee Devlin.
Verdict
The jury returned a guilty verdict against McGregor and acquitted Lawrence, who was also named as a defendant. Now McGregor must pay the victim a quarter of a million dollars, unless he wins the appeal.
“I was shocked. I was overwhelmed by the support I received from everyone. “My daughter gave me the strength and courage to continue fighting for justice throughout the last six years of this nightmare,” Hand told the press after the hearing.
“I want to show her and all the other girls and boys that if something happens to you, no matter who that person is, you can defend yourself and justice will prevail.”
McGregor, who admitted to using drugs that evening but still denied the rape, left the courtroom after hearing the indictment, ignoring the assembled media.
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Source: Gazeta
Gregory Robert is a sports aficionado and a writer for “Social Bites”. He provides in-depth coverage of the latest sporting events and trends, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the world of sports.