Nikita Hand plans to sue Conor McGregor alongside two individuals who were scheduled to provide testimony during his unsuccessful appeal over his civil rape case verdict.
The new lawsuit, submitted yesterday, names the former mixed martial arts competitor along with Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins as defendants.
The action seeks compensation based on claims that the trio participated in wrongful manipulation of judicial proceedings.
This development comes after McGregor’s defeat in challenging a High Court jury’s determination that he sexually assaulted Ms Hand at a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
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Nikita Hand plans to sue Conor McGregor alongside two individuals who were scheduled to provide testimony during his unsuccessful appeal over his civil rape case verdict
The two co-defendants had been prepared to offer evidence suggesting an alternative explanation for injuries sustained by Ms Hand, which she firmly rejected as fabrications.
McGregor had planned to present testimony from Ms O’Reilly and Mr Cummins, who identified themselves as previous neighbours of Ms Hand.
Their statements proposed that injuries visible on Ms Hand’s body resulted from an incident with her former partner following her evening with McGregor on 9 December 2018.
However, on the morning the appeal proceedings were scheduled to commence, this aspect of the case was withdrawn.
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The Court of Appeal characterised the withdrawal as occurring under “somewhat mysterious” conditions, noting the absence of any credible justification.
Justice Brian O’Moore stated that McGregor’s decision to abandon this evidence could only be interpreted as an admission that Ms Hand’s position was accurate.
The judge acknowledged that Ms Hand’s legal representatives were not overstating when they described how this “new evidence” had subjected their client to considerable distress.
The Court of Appeal comprehensively rejected all remaining aspects of McGregor’s challenge. Judges determined that jury members faced no confusion regarding the nature of the assault they were evaluating and understood clearly they were deciding on a rape allegation.
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Nikita Hand attended court on Thursday as Conor McGregor lost his appeal
Justice O’Moore emphasised that the trial judge had presented the matter in a “brutally clear” manner, making it “simply unreal” to claim any juror misunderstood the question posed.
The court also found adequate caution had been provided regarding McGregor’s repeated “no comment” responses during police questioning about the assault.
Ms Hand received her legal expenses on the most favourable terms possible, with the court expressing its strong disapproval of McGregor’s public questioning of both the jury’s decision and her evidence.
The matter has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for potential perjury proceedings.
Following the court proceedings, Ms Hand addressed the media, stating that the appeal process had “retraumatised” her “over and over again”. She described the significant toll of being compelled to revisit the assault.
Expressing gratitude towards those who had stood by her and trusted her account, she encouraged other survivors to resist being silenced.
“The Court of Appeal’s decision means I can finally move on and try to heal,” she said.
The Appeals Court separately denied James Lawrence, McGregor’s associate, his legal expenses.
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Conor McGregor wasn’t present in court as he lost his appeal
Judges noted portions of his supporting testimony were dishonest and highlighted that McGregor was covering his costs through arrangements described as “shrouded in mystery”.
The court warned that granting Lawrence’s costs could result in Ms Hand indirectly paying the man found to have assaulted her.