11/22/2024
Editor’s Note: For clarification purposes, McGregor was found liable, as this was a civil court case, not criminal court. The article has been updated to reflect as such. The article has also been updated to note that McGregor has since announced his intention to appeal the ruling.
One-time professional boxer and minority owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), Conor McGregor, has been found liable in a civil court of raping a woman in a Dublin hotel in 2018. The verdict was delivered by a jury in Dublin’s High Court on Friday, awarding the victim $257,915 USD in damages.
Photo Credit: UFC
The Irish mixed martial artist, aged 36, left the court swiftly and without comment following the decision. After six hours and 10 minutes of deliberation, the jury returned with a unanimous verdict in favor of the claimant, Ms. Hand, who alleged that McGregor had assaulted her in the penthouse suite of the Beacon Hotel in December 2018.
McGregor had previously told the court that he engaged in consensual sex with Ms. Hand, who testified that she was “brutally raped and battered” during the encounter. Ms. Hand claimed McGregor pinned her to the bed, choked her three times, and sexually assaulted her.
Photo Credit: UFC
Medical evidence presented during the trial revealed that Ms. Hand suffered extensive injuries, including purple and blue bruising along her hands and wrists, tenderness on her neck, and a bloodied scratch on her breast.
McGregor’s legal team fiercely contested the lawsuit, accusing Ms. Hand of an attempted “extortion” and arguing that her allegations were not credible. They presented CCTV footage of Ms. Hand arriving and leaving the hotel with McGregor and a second man, James Lawrence, whom she also accused of sexual assault.
Photo Credit: UFC
While McGregor was found liable for damages in the civil suit, Ms. Hand’s claim against Lawrence was dismissed.
During the trial, McGregor’s lawyers urged the jury to focus on the evidence rather than the fighter’s character, stating, “It does not matter if you do not like or even loathe him.” They acknowledged that McGregor and Ms. Hand knew each other and had occasionally interacted on social media.
The court heard that Ms. Hand had contacted McGregor on the night of the incident, and he subsequently picked her and a friend up in his car. According to her testimony, McGregor “came on to her,” but she resisted as she was on her period.
Photo Credit: Showtime Boxing
McGregor’s defense maintained that the encounter was consensual and pointed to inconsistencies in Ms. Hand’s account.
In August 2017, McGregor faced off against undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather in a highly publicized crossover bout. The buildup to the fight was a global spectacle, marked by an extravagant four-city press tour where the fighters traded verbal jabs. Although McGregor started strong in the ring, Mayweather ultimately won with a 10th-round TKO, extending his record to 50-0. Despite the outcome, the fight drew massive attention and cemented McGregor’s reputation as a crossover star.
The verdict marks a significant legal defeat for McGregor, whose career has been punctuated by both triumphs and controversies. While McGregor's legal team has announced plans for an appeal, the decision could have lasting implications for the fighter's public image and career prospects.
Despite his legal troubles, UFC President Dana White has expressed optimism about McGregor’s return to the octagon, suggesting a potential comeback in early 2025.
Subscribe to the Brunch Boxing website, Twitter and Podcast for more updates and in-depth coverage of the world of boxing in and out of the ring.
Brunch Boxing Support Links:
Comments