Conor McGregor was seen arriving in court over a civil assault claim stemming from an alleged rape at a hotel in Dublin in 2018.
In March 2019, reports emerged that claimed the MMA legend was under investigation for sexually assaulting a woman months prior – which a spokesperson later claimed was a ‘rumour’ and was ‘absolutely false’.
As a result, two years later, prosecutors declined to prosecute McGregor for the alleged sexual assault, and instead a civil claim for damages was launched in the High Court.
The woman in question is bringing a civil damages claim against McGregor and another man, James Lawrence, who both deny the civil assault claim.
On Tuesday morning, McGregor was seen arriving at the court in a navy suit and a matching tie. He seemed emotionally reserved as he made his way inside alongside by his father Tony.
Conor McGregor was seen arriving in court over a civil assault claim stemming from an alleged rape at a hotel in Dublin in 2018
He seemed emotionally reserved as he made his way inside the High Court on Tuesday
The plaintiff – Nikita Ni Laimhin (pictured) – was also seen arriving at the High Court
At one point, Mr McGregor went into a bedroom and beckoned Ms Ni Laimhin to join him.
The court was told that Mr McGregor ‘came on to her’, but she did not want to have sexual intercourse with him as she was on her period.
Mr Gordon told the court that she alleged that Mr McGregor pinned her down on the bed and that she was no physical match for him.
‘She will tell you that she was nervous, that she tried to push him off her but she was completely unable to do so,’ he added.
‘You will see pictures of her hands and wrists which are black and blue. You will see that her left breast has a bloodied scratch. The scratch is there because she was wearing a watch and had her hands up to protect herself. She was pressed down on and the watch scarred her breast.
‘Mr McGregor then flips her over and puts her arm in a lock and draws her up by the neck. She can’t breathe. And he does it again.
‘By the third time he does it, she gives up. She can’t resist this any more. In the course of this he says: ‘Now you know what it was like to be in the Octagon when I went down three times.’
‘She was at this point completely terrified. She subjected herself to what was about to happen, which was a violent and vicious assault.’
It is alleged later that she had sex with Mr Lawrence, but Mr Gordon said she has no recollection of such an event ever happening.
Ms Ni Laimhin later went home and visited her mother, who called 999. Ms Ni Laimhin was taken to hospital in an ambulance. The court was told that she was shaking and in pain while being transferred to hospital.
Mr Gordon said: ‘In the face of this, Mr McGregor will tell you that this was a consensual encounter, that they were just having fun and a bit of rough sex. That’s his answer.
‘What did I say about common sense? Don’t be fooled into leaving it behind in this (court) room.
‘What he is saying is that she gave him a licence to carry out what has to have been a brutal assault on her body.’
A spokesperson for McGregor at the time claimed it was a ‘rumour’ and was ‘absolutely false’
The woman making the claim said the incident occurred at Dublin’s Beacon Hotel, where McGregor reportedly stays on occasion
The action is expected to last two weeks and the judge has asked the jury to make themselves available for three weeks
McGregor has been in a relationship with Dee Devlin since 2008. They have four children
The defence claimed in the evidence booklet that Ms Ni Laimhin had several opportunities to complain to people about how she was treated but did not.
It will also claim that Ms Ni Laimhin is engaged in an attempt at extortion, the court heard.
Mr Gordon said that his client is being called a ‘gold digger and a fraud’, adding: ‘Brave. But where is the bravery in this? Bravery ultimately sits with my client.
‘Because she pursued her mission for vindication and compensation to which she is entitled. And for these defendants to breezily and cheekily dispose of her claim is something you will consider in due course.’
Earlier the jury was sworn in at the High Court and told that they are judges of fact as to what happened and will have to draw a conclusion and it will be based on their decision.
The action is expected to last around two weeks.