Former Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor McGregor has faced a significant legal defeat in Dublin, Ireland. The mixed martial arts fighter’s appeal against a civil court ruling that found him liable for sexual assault has been unanimously rejected.
In November of last year, a High Court jury in Dublin determined that McGregor had sexually assaulted a woman named Nikita Hand at a hotel in 2018. The court ordered McGregor to pay substantial damages and legal costs totaling approximately 1.55 million euros, or $1.78 million.
Nikita Hand, who is 35 years old, pursued a civil case after criminal prosecutors declined to press charges, citing insufficient evidence. McGregor has consistently denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual.
This case highlights the complexities of sexual assault allegations in both criminal and civil contexts. It’s worth noting that the burden of proof in civil cases is generally lower than in criminal proceedings.
McGregor was not present in court for the ruling, while Nikita Hand attended. The fighter’s legal team had previously withdrawn a request to introduce new evidence during the appeal process.
This development follows earlier reports of McGregor’s involvement in other controversies, including anti-immigration statements and a separate lawsuit in Florida alleging another incident of sexual assault. The significance of these legal challenges should not be overlooked, particularly as they coincide with McGregor’s declining prominence in professional fighting and his apparent political aspirations in Ireland.