Irish MMA star Conor McGregor suffered a legal blow on Thursday as the Court of Appeal in Dublin upheld a previous civil court ruling that awarded €250,000 in damages to a woman who accused him of rape.
A panel of three judges dismissed all grounds brought forward by McGregor’s legal team, who had challenged a High Court jury’s verdict from November 2023.
The woman at the centre of the case, 35-year-old Nikita Hand, claimed the UFC fighter raped her at a Dublin hotel in 2018 — allegations McGregor has consistently denied, insisting the encounter was consensual.
The civil suit had originally ended with the jury siding with Hand, awarding her substantial damages.
In addition to the payment, McGregor, 36, was ordered to cover all legal costs, bringing the total bill to around €1.5 million.
McGregor’s appeal sought a retrial, with his lawyers citing alleged judicial missteps during the original proceedings, particularly regarding the nature of his cross-examination.
However, the Court of Appeal found no merit in the arguments presented.
In a statement following the ruling, Hand expressed both relief and emotional exhaustion, saying the appeal process had “retraumatised” her. “But I can now finally move on and try to heal,” she said, encouraging other survivors to speak out: “You also deserve justice.”
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While Hand had simultaneously filed a separate assault case against a second individual, that case was dismissed.
McGregor, who did not attend the appeal hearings, has made headlines recently not only for his legal battles but also his political ambitions.
In March, he visited the White House and met with U.S. President Joe Biden during Saint Patrick’s Day festivities.
He has also voiced intentions to run in Ireland’s upcoming presidential election — a contest set to take place by mid-November.
Nicknamed “The Notorious,” McGregor remains one of the UFC’s most recognizable names, though his star has dimmed amid ongoing controversies.
In January, he was also sued in the United States over an alleged sexual assault that reportedly occurred during an NBA game in Miami in 2023.
Despite his notoriety and influence, McGregor now faces serious legal and public relations challenges, both at home and abroad, as he eyes a transition from the octagon to the political arena.