Woman who accused Conor McGregor of rape wins claim for damages

After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdicts in the civil trial against McGregor.

The total amount of damages awarded to Nikita Hand by the jury was €248,603.60. Ms Hand is to be awarded €60,000 in general damages and €188,000 in special damages, said Mr Justice Alexander Owens.

Mr McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men returned with their verdict.

McGregor had faced an accusation that he “brutally raped and battered” Nikita Hand at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018. The MMA star previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel.

Following eight days of evidence and three days listening to closing speeches and the judge’s charge, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before returning with its verdict.

Mr McGregor was accompanied by his family, including his partner Dee Devlin, parents, sister and brother-in-law. He sat in the back row of the court, between his partner and mother, Margaret.

Ms Hand, 35, cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters. A number of gardaí were in the courtroom as the verdict was delivered.

Following eight days of evidence and three days of listening to closing speeches and the judge’s charge, the jury started their deliberations at 3.03pm on Thursday.

On Thursday, Justice Owens spent some time summing up evidence heard over the two weeks, from witnesses including Ms Hand, who has no automatic right to anonymity, Mr McGregor, Mr Lawrence, as well as police, paramedics, psychiatrists, an actuary, colleagues of Ms Hand as well as a former principal forensic medical officer.

He reminded them of a number of legal principles, including the standard of proof in a civil case which is on the balance of probabilities and that the onus of proof rests on the plaintiff.