Jury sworn for alleged sexual assault civil case against McGregor

Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor has been accused of raping a woman in a Dublin hotel, the city’s High Court has been told.

Nikita Hand is claiming civil damages against McGregor and another man, alleging she was sexually assaulted.

Mr McGregor’s lawyers told the court Ms Hand, who has no automatic right to anonymity, is attempting extortion.

Justice Alexander Owens told the jury it is alleged Ms Hand was sexually assaulted by McGregor and James Lawrence, with an address of Rafters Road, Drimnagh, on 9 December 2018.

The judge said it is alleged the pair had “in effect raped her”.

Mr Justice Owens told the jury this is not a criminal case but a civil case of assault and that if it proved the assault occurred then it is a civil wrong and that the plaintiff is entitled to compensation.

John Gordon SC for Ms Hand said his client knew Mr McGregor as they were in the same age group, from the same area and had mutual friends.

In 2018, Ms Hand lived in the Dublin suburb of Drimnagh with her partner and seven-year-old daughter.

Mr Gordon said that Mr McGregor was “enormously famous” and considered a “hero” around Drimnagh.

The court heard that Mr McGregor collected Ms Hand, a Dublin hairdresser, and her friend following a Christmas party on 8 December.

Ms Hand believed Mr McGregor was taking her and her friend to another party.

They were later joined by Mr Lawrence and went to a penthouse suite in the Beacon Hotel in Dublin where they drank alcohol and took cocaine.

At one point, Mr McGregor beckoned Ms Hand to join him in a bedroom.

The court heard that Mr McGregor “came onto” Ms Hand but she not want to have sexual intercourse as she was on her period.

Ms Hand then alleges Mr McGregor pinned her down on the bed.

Mr Gordon said the jury will hear how she tried to push him off her, but could not and was left with bruising, scratches and a cut to her chest.

The court also heard from a gynaecologist who conducted an examination of Ms Hand at the Rotunda Hospital’s emergency department on 10 December.

Dr Daniel Kane said she was “shaking and crying” throughout the examination.

Dr Kane also noted multiple injuries to Ms Hand, photographs of which were shown to the court.

He described the injuries as moderate to severe.

It is alleged later that she had sex with Mr Lawrence, but Mr Gordon said she has no recollection of this.

Ms Hand later went home and visited her mother, who called 999.

She was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Mr Gordon said Mr McGregor will put injuries down to “rough sex”

“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,” he added.

The defence claimed Ms Hand had several opportunities to complain to people about how she was treated but did not.

It will also claim Ms Hand is engaged in an attempt at extortion, the court heard.

Mr Gordon said his client is being called a “gold digger and a fraud”.

However, he said she had shown bravery in seeking “vindication and compensation”.

The action is expected to last about two weeks.