A Dublin court has revealed new details about an incident involving MMA fighter Conor McGregor, in which a masked gang broke into the home of Nikita Hand, the woman who previously filed a civil case accusing him of assault. During a trial where McGregor was found liable for assaulting Hand in December 2018, the court learned that on June 14, 2024, masked individuals broke into her home, smashed windows, and stabbed her boyfriend. Hand’s legal team did not implicate McGregor in the attack but argued that it contributed to her anxiety, which forced her to relocate.
Hand’s counsel stated that the attack was linked to her ongoing legal battle with McGregor, though they did not directly tie him to the incident. The defense for McGregor objected to the inclusion of this claim, arguing it was irrelevant to the case at hand. However, the judge ruled it inadmissible, although the claim was discussed outside of the jury’s presence.
McGregor, who denied all accusations from Hand, including the claim of rape in a Dublin hotel in 2018, expressed disappointment over the court’s decision and noted that the damages awarded to Hand were modest. He emphasized that the jury had not heard all the evidence the Irish Director of Public Prosecutions reviewed. The DPP had previously opted not to pursue a criminal case in 2020, citing insufficient grounds for a conviction.
The case has sparked discussion about the definition of consent, with the judge clarifying that “submission” and intoxication do not equate to consent. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre commended the trial for contributing to the ongoing conversation about consent in Ireland.
