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Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has lost his appeal against a civil court ruling that awarded damages to a woman who accused him of rape. The decision was handed down on Thursday by Ireland’s Court of Appeal in Dublin, where a panel of three judges dismissed all grounds of appeal presented by the 36-year-old fighter.
The original ruling, delivered by a jury at Dublin’s High Court in November last year, awarded €250,000 (approximately £213,000) in damages to Nikita Hand, who alleged McGregor raped her at a hotel in the Irish capital in 2018. The court heard claims that McGregor had “brutally raped and battered” her, though the athlete has maintained that the encounter was consensual.
In the same trial, Hand’s separate assault claim against a second man was dismissed.
As part of the initial ruling, McGregor was also ordered to cover all legal costs associated with the case, which are estimated to be around €1.5 million (£1.28 million). He subsequently launched an appeal, seeking a retrial and arguing that judicial errors had been made, including issues with how he was cross-examined.
McGregor was not present for the month-long appeal hearings. Following Thursday’s ruling, Nikita Hand said the appeal process had “retraumatised” her but expressed relief that she could now begin to heal.
“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,” she told reporters outside the court.
McGregor, one of the most prominent figures in UFC history and a former featherweight and lightweight champion, has recently become known for his outspoken views on immigration in Ireland. In March, he met with former US President Donald Trump at the White House during a Saint Patrick’s Day visit.
He also faces a separate legal challenge in the United States, where he was sued in January over an alleged sexual assault that took place during an NBA game in Miami in 2023.
Despite ongoing legal troubles, McGregor has declared his intention to run in Ireland’s upcoming presidential election. While the presidency is largely ceremonial, McGregor would need to overcome significant procedural obstacles to appear on the ballot. The election must take place by mid-November.
