Conor McGregor's Appeal Dismissed

Conor McGregor, the renowned MMA fighter, has lost his appeal against a civil jury's finding that he sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in 2018. The Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed the appeal on all grounds, upholding the original verdict that ordered McGregor to pay £206,000 in damages plus costs to Ms. Hand.

Grounds for the Appeal

McGregor's legal team based their appeal on several issues, including the wording of the question posed to the jury and the handling of McGregor's responses during police interviews. They argued that the question on the 'issue paper' should have specified 'sexual assault' rather than 'assault.' However, the appeal judges found it 'simply unreal' to suggest that the jury could have been confused by the wording.

Impact on Nikita Hand

Speaking outside the court, Nikita Hand expressed her gratitude for the support she received throughout the legal process. She stated that the appeal had 'retraumatised' her repeatedly, forcing her to relive the traumatic events. Hand urged other survivors to speak out and seek justice, emphasizing that they deserve to be heard.

Legal Implications

The dismissal of McGregor's appeal has significant legal implications. The court found that McGregor's lawyers had not proven a 'real risk of unfair trial' in relation to the police interviews. Additionally, McGregor's friend, James Lawrence, lost his appeal against the decision to pay costs, despite the jury finding that he did not assault Hand.

Withdrawal of Evidence

During the appeal process, McGregor withdrew an application to introduce new evidence from former neighbors of Nikita Hand. The proposed evidence suggested that bruising on Hand's body could have been caused by her former partner. The senior judges described this aspect of the appeal as 'somewhat mysterious' and awarded Hand costs related to this issue.

Conclusion

This case highlights the complexities and challenges of civil litigation in high-profile sexual assault cases. The dismissal of McGregor's appeal reinforces the importance of thorough legal scrutiny and the need for survivors to have their voices heard in the pursuit of justice.