CONOR McGregor has insisted he will appeal a civil jury’s verdict as he broke his silence after a woman who accused him of rape won her claim for damages in the High Court.
Nikita Hand urged others to “speak up, you have a voice” after winning almost €250,000 in damages in her civil action against sports superstar McGregor.
Conor McGregor leaving the High Court with partner Dee Devlin and father Tony[/caption]
The UFC fighter said he will appeal the court’s decision[/caption]
Nikita Hand sobbed after she won her case[/caption]
Ms Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, lost her case against another man, James Lawrence, who she accused of assaulting her by allegedly having sex without her consent at the same hotel.
McGregor shook his head as the verdict was read out in court.
He was accompanied by his partner Dee Devlin, mother Margaret, father Tony, sister Aoife and brother-in-law Terry Kavanagh.
McGregor, 36, made no comment as he legged it from court with partner Dee following the jury’s ruling.
But tweeting afterwards, he said he would be appealing the decision.
McGregor said: “I will be appealing today’s decision. The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages.
“I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future.”
McGregor had faced an accusation that he “brutally raped and battered” Ms Hand at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.
The Irish sports star previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel.
Ms Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, lost her case against another man, James Lawrence, who she accused of assaulting her by allegedly having sex without her consent at the same hotel.
Following eight days of evidence and three days listening to closing speeches and the judge’s charge, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating before returning with its verdict.
McGregor shook his head after the jury read out that Ms Hand had won her case against him.
McGregor was accompanied by his family, including his partner Dee Devlin, parents, sister and brother-in-law.
He sat in the back row of the court, between his partner and mother, Margaret.
Ms Hand, 35, cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters.
A number of gardai were in the courtroom as the verdict was delivered.
The case, which opened on November 5, had previously heard that on the day of the attack, Ms Hand and her work colleague Danielle Kealy went to the penthouse suite with McGregor and Mr Lawrence after their work Christmas party.
They had given evidence of how they had been partying all night from December 8 and into the morning of December 9, and had been heavily drinking and taking cocaine.
Ms Hand, a mother-of-one, told the court how McGregor had pinned her to the bed in the hotel bedroom before assaulting her.
During her evidence to the court, Ms Hand said she thought she would never see her young daughter again when the MMA star was “choking” her.
The court heard that as she was being attacked, she “froze and couldn’t move or breathe”.
In an emotional statement outside the High Court in Dublin, mum-of-one Nikita paid tribute to her family and daughter Freya.
And the 35-year-old sex assault victim declared: “I want to show Freya and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself. If something happens to you, no matter who the person is and justice will be served.”
Nikita said: “I would like to start off by saying I’m overwhelmed and touched by the support I have received from everybody.
“First, I want to thank the legal team and my three barristers, John Gordon, Ray Boland and Sean. They have been amazing from start to finish.
“I want to thank Mr Justice Alexander Owens, the jury, all the witnesses.
“I want to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone at the sexual assault treatment unit in the Rotunda Hospital for looking after me, especially my own doctor Frank Clarke.
“I want to thank the Rape Crisis Centre, especially Cliona, who has been by my side throughout this entire period.
“I want to thank all the guards and the ambulance crew.
“I want to thank all the women and men out there who have supported me throughout this trial.
“For every person who reached out to me – a card, a letter, e-mail, everything, it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Thank you. I really appreciate it so much.
“I want to thank my partner Gary, who has been so supportive for the last four years and has held my hand throughout his trial every day and every other day.
“I want to thank my mam and all my family and friends.
“Lastly, I want to thank my daughter Freya, who I’m most grateful for. She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice.
“I want to show Freya and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself. If something happens to you, no matter who the person is and justice will be served. To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up. You have a voice and keep on fighting for justice.
“I know this has impacted not only my life, my daughter’s, my family and friends tremendously, and it’s something that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.
“But now that justice has been served, I can now try and move on and look forward to the future with my family and friends and daughter.”
