Content Warning: This article includes descriptions of sexual assault.
One of the biggest stories in MMA this year didn’t happen inside the UFC’s cage, at a crossover boxing event, or on Wall Street following a major business maneuver. Instead, it occurred in a Dublin, Ireland courtroom, where the sport’s biggest star was found liable for sexual assault in a civil case.
A jury found Conor McGregor liable for a 2018 assault against hairdresser Nikita Hand last week, wrapping up a weeklong court case that had initially been filed years back.
The jury decided that McGregor choked and raped Hand, who was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine when they met inside a hotel penthouse in late 2018. McGregor denied this claim, instead arguing that he had consensual sex with Hand.
Hand argued that their encounter caused severe damage to her, both immediately via physical bruising and a tampon deeply wedged in her vagina which had to be removed by a gynecologist, and also more long-term via mental harm.
Due to Ireland’s rules around civil trials, being that the proceedings cannot be recorded and published online unlike some cases in the U.S., the public has relied on descriptions from journalists who were in the courtroom to gain a better understanding of the trial.
A recent interview conducted by combat sports journalist Luke Thomas has helped shed further light on the trial. Newstalk’s Frank Greaney, who was in court for the entire case, joined Thomas for an hour-long conversation outlining his experience covering the case.
Greaney details seeing ‘horrific’ injuries
Some of the most damning evidence in favor of plaintiff Hand came from the long list of experts who spoke about the physical and mental damage she suffered following her encounter with McGregor.
Some medical professionals went into detail about the bruising they saw on Hand, with one saying it was more than any other client they had dealt with before. The jury was shown photographic proof of a marked-up Hand, including a gash on her breast caused by a watch scraping her, and markings around her neck.
Greaney described the injuries as a detail that he “kept coming back to” during other moments of the trial, as it was some of the most striking evidence provided.
“They were horrific, extensive injuries … Nikita Hand was black and blue from head to toe,” said Greaney. “The photographs were very hard to look at for me as a seasoned journalist who covers murder and rape trials in the criminal courts. You would have to assume it was very difficult for the juries to look them at too.”
A top psychologist in the country, Dr. Ann Leader, also spoke to a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis for Hand following the incident, which Greaney also found to be an important detail that made Hand’s case so strong.
“Those photographs and the medical evidence that was heard during the trial would have been at the fore of their minds in my opinion.”
The role of CCTV and the argument of ‘delayed shock’
A major part of the pushback by McGregor’s team centered around CCTV footage that showed Hand the night of her meeting with the UFC star. McGregor’s side stressed that signs of affection, including being close to co-defendant James Lawrence and at one point kissing McGregor on the arm, showed that she wasn’t dealing with the crushing trauma of having just experienced a rape.
“Looking at it objectively, if you didn’t know the background of the case and if you were asked to take a look at that footage, and if you were to look at that group and if you were to ask somebody which one of that group has been subjected to a brutal rape at the hands of an MMA fighter just a few hours beforehand, you are unlikely to point at Nikita Hand,” Greaney admitted. “She was seen with drinks in her hand, she was seen hanging out with the likes of James Lawrence, giving Conor McGregor that hug and that peck that I spoke of, trying to convince people to stay, making phone calls, lying to her boyfriend about her whereabouts and who she was with, she wanted to keep the party going.”
However, Greaney explained that the video footage is more complicated than that. The experienced court reporter explained how Hand’s team spoke about a “delayed shock” following the incident which explained her attitude in the hours that followed. Greaney mentioned that the reaction to a rape, in his court reporting experience, is rarely an immediate fleeing of a scenario.
“It’s very uncommon that you would see somebody running out the door, arms flailing, looking for help, dialing 999, looking for assistance,” he said.
“And also let’s not forget, there’s no escaping the fact that she had a lot of drink onboard and a lot of cocaine was taken over the course of the day … It was only then as the hours went by and the effects of the alcohol and the drugs started to wear off.”
‘A lot of people will be looking at Conor McGregor in a very different light’
After the case, Greaney says Hand has been championed within the country for taking on a rich and powerful man for sexual assault. He explained how Hand took a risk with the trial, proceeding with a civil trial after Irish authorities decided to not pursue a criminal trial in 2021.
“Since the verdict came in on Friday, Nikita Hand has been embraced by the whole country it seems with warm, open arms,” he said. “She is a remarkably brave woman to have brought the allegation in the first instance and to have kept going, particularly after that bitter moment when criminal charges weren’t brought.
Hand’s statement following the trial didn’t focus on the damages awarded to her, but instead honed in on the importance of seeking justice.
“I want to show [my daughter] and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served,” Hand said outside a Dublin courtroom following the verdict on Friday. “To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up, you have a voice, and keep on fighting for justice.”
Despite the recent court verdict, Greaney mentioned how McGregor still has a strong contingent of supporters. He recalled seeing the MMA fighter be asked to sign autographs from fans during the trial, and at one point witnessed a father bring his son to the Dublin High Court for a photo with the two-division champ.
McGregor still has a large base of fans, but loads of critics as well. Some certainly aren’t holding back on the fighter after he was found liable in court last week. On Saturday, The Irish Independent’s opinion section published a bold piece: “Strutting peacock Conor McGregor to be forever known as a generally disgusting human being.”
On Monday, IO Interactive severed ties with McGregor, whom they had collaborated with as part of the Hitman: World of Assassination video game.
“I think a lot of people will be looking at Conor McGregor in a very different light in respect to what happened on Friday,” Greaney mentioned. “One thing that he certainly hasn’t done is come out and apologize or show any remorse in relation to what happened. He seems to be totally unaccepting of the verdict. Indeed, one of the first things that he did after jumping into his Bentley and speeding off without stopping to make a statement or anything like that after the verdict came in was to take to X to announce his intention to appeal the decision.”
The social media post that Greaney was referring to, a now-deleted message on X, saw McGregor dispute the case.
“I will be appealing today’s decision,” McGregor said. “The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future…”
It remains unclear whether McGregor plans to formally pursue an appeal, or if his latest legal battle has written its final chapter.
The full conversation between Greaney and Thomas can be watched here.