LONDON (AP) — Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor faced a significant legal setback on Thursday as he lost his appeal against a civil court's ruling, which found him liable for sexually assaulting a woman at a Dublin hotel. In November, a jury at the High Court in Dublin concluded that McGregor was responsible for the assault on Nikita Hand, who alleged that he "brutally raped and battered" her in a hotel penthouse in 2018.
The court mandated McGregor to pay Hand nearly 250,000 euros (approximately $285,000) in damages, in addition to around 1.3 million euros ($1.5 million) for legal costs. Hand, aged 35, successfully pursued civil action against McGregor after public prosecutors determined that there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against him. They concluded that a conviction in a criminal court would be unlikely, paving the way for Hand to seek justice through civil means.
The Associated Press generally refrains from naming alleged victims of sexual violence unless they choose to come forward, as Hand has. McGregor has accused Hand of fabricating the allegations, asserting that the two engaged in consensual sexual relations. Despite his claims and the subsequent appeal, McGregor's legal team withdrew a request to present new evidence at a recent hearing. This surprise move led the three judges of the appeals court in Dublin to dismiss the case "in its entirety."
Hand attended the court for the ruling, while McGregor was absent. Now 37 years old, McGregor was once a prominent figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) but has recently experienced a decline both in his fighting career and public image. He has drawn attention for his controversial anti-immigration remarks and sharp criticisms of Irish politicians, even hinting at the possibility of a run for the presidency of Ireland.
Additionally, McGregor is facing another legal challenge in Florida, where he has been sued for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of the Kaseya Center, the home arena of the Miami Heat, during the NBA Finals game in 2023 against the Denver Nuggets. This string of legal troubles marks a complicated chapter in McGregor's life, intertwining his status as a celebrated mixed martial arts fighter with serious allegations of misconduct.
McGregor's fall from grace has been magnified by these incidents and his public comments. The fighter’s previous significance in the UFC and his celebrity status have now become overshadowed by legal battles that continue to unfold. As a figure once recognized for his prowess in the ring, the current events raise questions about his future in both the sport and public life.
