Conor McGregor Loses Appeal in €248K Civil Lawsuit
Conor McGregor has officially lost his appeal in the civil case brought against him by Nikita Hand, who accused the former UFC champion of sexually assaulting her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. As per recent reveal, the Irish Court of Appeal dismissed all five grounds of McGregor’s appeal, confirming the original High Court decision that found him civilly liable.
As a result, McGregor must still pay €248,000 in damages to Hand. Legal fees in the case, which also involve co-defendant James Lawrence, have risen to €1.3 million, with costs expected to grow even further following the failed appeal.
During the appeal process, McGregor’s legal team attempted to introduce affidavits from neighbors suggesting Hand’s injuries may have resulted from a domestic dispute. However, that evidence was withdrawn before the hearing began. The court noted this and referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions for review.
McGregor did not attend the appeal hearing and later issued a public statement on social media dismissing the ruling as a “shakedown.” Despite previously claiming he would pay Lawrence’s legal costs, he now denies that obligation and has stated he will not pay the €2 million total in legal fees.
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Nikita Hand, who was present in court for the ruling, called the appeal process retraumatizing but expressed relief that it was over. She said the ruling gave her a sense of closure and hoped it would encourage other survivors to speak up.
Though the case was civil and did not involve a criminal conviction, the verdict has had real consequences for McGregor. Retailers across Ireland have begun removing his Proper Twelve whiskey products from shelves, and several commercial partners are reportedly reconsidering their ties with him.
This legal defeat may also impact McGregor’s potential return to the UFC, as public scrutiny and ongoing financial liabilities continue to surround the former two-division champion.
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