Article
Conor McGregor interacts with media after BKFC 70 Hollywood

Why Conor McGregor Lost Appeal in Civil Sexual Assault Case

The controversies surrounding the athlete have intensified the debate over abuse committed by powerful public figures

Archivado en: Diddy  •  

In November 2024, the Irish High Court ordered MMA fighter Conor McGregor to pay €250,000 (roughly $270,000) in damages after finding him liable in a civil rape case involving a 2018 incident at a Dublin hotel. The case centered around allegations by Nikita Hand, who accused McGregor of sexually assaulting her. 

McGregor sought to overturn the decision by appealing to the Dublin Court of Appeal, claiming new evidence could exonerate him. However, the court has now officially rejected that appeal, leaving the initial judgment in place.

A verdict that comes a few days after rapper Azealia Banks accused McGregor of sending her unsolicited nudes.

Key Evidence Against McGregor

McGregor’s legal team had hoped to challenge two key pieces of evidence presented in the original trial. The first was a series of police interviews conducted after the incident in which McGregor repeatedly responded with «no comment.» His attorneys argued that these statements were improperly admitted, but the court maintained their inclusion in the case file.

The second involved medical and testimonial evidence provided by Hand’s legal team. Witnesses disputed claims that Hand showed no signs of physical trauma. One expert testified that a medical procedure involving forceps was needed to remove a tampon lodged deep within her body, reinforcing the allegations of violent, non-consensual intercourse.

A Pattern of Controversy

This isn’t the first time McGregor has made headlines for the wrong reasons. In 2018, he was filmed attacking a UFC bus in New York City. The following year, he punched an elderly man in a Dublin pub who refused to drink his branded whiskey.

Although McGregor insists the 2018 encounter was “consensual, vigorous, and energetic,” he has faced multiple sexual assault allegations in recent years — including in Corsica (2020), Ibiza (2022), and Miami during the 2023 NBA Finals. In those cases, either charges were dropped or not pursued due to alleged lack of evidence.

This ruling marks the first time McGregor has been held legally accountable in a sexual misconduct case. Alongside figures like Diddy and Harvey Weinstein, McGregor has become part of the broader conversation about abuse of women by powerful men.