Jury find Conor McGregor assaulted Nikita Hand

The jury in a High Court Civil case against Conor McGregor has found that the MMA fighter sexually assaulted 35-year-old Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in 2018.

€248,603.60 is the total award of damages.

Following eight days of evidence, three days of days listening to closing speeches and the judge’s charge, the jury - which consisted of eight women and four men - began their deliberations on Thursday afternoon.

Nikita Hand had alleged she was raped by the Mixed Martial Arts star in the Beacon hotel on December 9, 2018, and that McGregor's associate James Lawrence,  “did likewise”. The Jury found that James Lawrence did not assault her.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre have issued a statement following the Jury's verdict.

“Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is exceptionally proud to stand with the courageous and determined Nikita Hand in her pursuit of justice," said Chief Executive Rachel Morrogh. "This is a very positive verdict and a mark of belief in survivors around the country. The court has acknowledged the wrongs done to this brave woman and the acts of violence against her. Nikita had a right to live a life free of sexual violence, just like every other woman who has ever experienced it. It is important to victims and survivors and to the wider public that when that right is violated, justice is served in the way that it was today.

“In the face of great adversity, Nikita Hand held strong to her belief that the truth must be told and acknowledged in court. Today’s verdict will be met with relief by many survivors of sexual violence watching and listening closely to the narrative inside and outside the courtroom.

“Thankfully the jury found in favour of Nikita Hand. But this case and the public commentary around it has also thrown up questions about how some of Irish society views victims of sexual violence. It illustrates that there is still a culture of blame and judgement out there that has no place in a modern society. We need a greater awareness of how trauma affects people differently and accelerated action to change residual negative attitudes around sexual violence.

“Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has seen the profound effect the case has had on the community of people we support. Over the first 10 days of the trial, calls to the National Rape Crisis Helpline increased by almost 20%, with first-time callers increasing by 50% compared to the same period last year. These calls were largely from people who had experienced sexual violence themselves and who expressed distress and anxiety around details of the case and the views of people around them.

“Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has heard from people who say they have witnessed an increase in negative victim-blaming attitudes over the last 2 weeks. Given the epidemic of sexual violence that exists in Ireland and that over half of women will experience some form of it in their lifetime, those attitudes have been picked up by a considerable number of people directly affected by this issue.

“It will take some time to analyse all the issues that have arisen for survivors as a result of this case but when we have, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre intends to bring forward a range of victim-centred recommendations.

"For now though, it is Nikita Hand’s day. All of us at Dublin Rape Crisis Centre wish her and her family the very best as they move on from this together.”

• The National Rape Crisis Helpline is open 24 hours a day for people who have been affected by sexual violence. Tel: 1800 778888