On Thursday, July 31, 2025, Conor McGregor, the Irish mixed martial arts fighter and former UFC champion, suffered a significant legal setback when Ireland's Court of Appeal dismissed his civil appeal against a jury's finding that he raped Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. The unanimous ruling upheld the November 2024 High Court decision that found McGregor civilly liable for assault and ordered him to pay nearly €250,000 ($285,000) in damages, along with approximately €1.3 million ($1.58 million) in legal costs.
McGregor, 36 at the time of the appeal, has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that the sexual encounter with Hand was consensual and disputing claims that he caused any bruising. The Court of Appeal rejected all five grounds of his appeal, including his argument that the trial judge had erred by instructing the jury to consider whether he "assaulted" rather than "sexually assaulted" Hand. Justice Brian O'Moore, delivering the judgment alongside Justices Isobel Kennedy and Patrick MacGrath, stated unequivocally that the trial judge's charge was "brutally clear" and that it was "simply unreal" to suggest the jury could have been confused about the nature of the allegation. "The jury found as a fact that Mr. McGregor had assaulted Ms Hand by raping her," O'Moore declared.
Another key point in the appeal concerned McGregor's multiple "no comment" responses during police interviews. His legal team contended that the trial judge had wrongly allowed questioning about these responses, suggesting it could have led the jury to draw adverse inferences against McGregor. However, the appeal court dismissed this, noting that the trial judge had repeatedly cautioned the jury not to make adverse inferences from McGregor's silence and to disregard certain "no comment" answers as having no evidential value. The court found no real risk of an unfair trial and confirmed that McGregor's right to effective cross-examination was not compromised.
McGregor's legal team had initially sought to introduce new evidence from Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, neighbors of Hand at the time of the incident. O'Reilly, in a sworn affidavit, claimed to have witnessed Hand being pushed and potentially kicked by her then-partner hours after returning from the hotel. She asserted that although she did not see any blows directly, the body language of Hand's partner suggested he kicked her. Hand vehemently denied these claims, describing them as "lies." In a surprising development, McGregor's lawyers withdrew the application to submit this new evidence earlier in July 2025. Following this, Hand's legal team requested the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to investigate potential perjury, a move the court confirmed would proceed.
James Lawrence, a co-defendant in the civil case who was accused alongside McGregor, also lost his appeal against the trial judge's decision not to award him legal costs, despite the jury not finding him liable for assault. Both men had maintained that their sexual encounters with Hand were consensual.
Hand was present in the Dublin courtroom for the appeal ruling, while McGregor was notably absent. After the verdict, Hand expressed relief and gratitude, acknowledging the emotional toll the proceedings had taken on her. "This appeal has retraumatised me over and over again, being forced to relive it," she said. "To every survivor out there, I know how hard it is, but please, don't be silenced. You deserve to be heard, you also deserve justice. Today, I can finally move on and try to heal." She thanked her lawyers and a rape crisis center for their support throughout the process.
Hand's testimony in the original trial detailed the events of December 9, 2018. She recounted attending a work Christmas party where she and a friend made contact with McGregor, whom she knew. McGregor drove them to a party in a penthouse suite of a Dublin hotel, where alcohol and drugs were consumed. She alleged that McGregor then took her to a bedroom in the penthouse and sexually assaulted her. The court also heard that when Hand was referred to a sexual assault treatment unit the following day, a doctor was so concerned about her injuries that photographs were taken as part of the medical examination.
McGregor's civil case followed the decision by Irish prosecutors not to pursue criminal charges. Despite the civil court's ruling, McGregor continues to deny wrongdoing. Beyond the courtroom, McGregor remains a prominent and controversial figure. Earlier in 2025, he visited the White House on St. Patrick's Day, meeting former U.S. President Donald Trump, and has expressed ambitions to enter Irish politics, even suggesting a run for the largely ceremonial presidency of Ireland. His political stance has leaned toward far-right views, including criticism of immigration and mainstream politicians.
Adding to his legal challenges, McGregor faces another sexual assault lawsuit in Florida, stemming from an alleged incident in 2023 at an NBA basketball arena. This ongoing case underscores the broader scrutiny the fighter faces outside the octagon.
The Court of Appeal's decision on July 31, 2025, marks a definitive moment in the civil case against McGregor. The ruling not only affirms the jury's finding but also signals the court's confidence in the fairness and thoroughness of the original trial. As the legal battles continue, the case remains a focal point for discussions on consent, accountability, and the complexities of civil versus criminal proceedings in sexual assault cases.
