UFC star Conor McGregor's sexual assault case appeal was denied. Ireland's Court of Appeal find him civilly liable of sexually assaulting Nikita Hand.
Conor McGregor's Rape Case Explained, Verdict Reached originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has been involved in a years-long legal battle that has overshadowed his fighting career. Nikita Hand alleged that McGregor assaulted her in a penthouse suite at Dublin’s Beacon Hotel in 2018. Hand testified that McGregor, whom she knew prior to the incident, isolated her in a bedroom, choked her, and raped her, leaving her with visible injuries documented by a sexual assault treatment unit.
In November 2024, McGregor was found civilly liable for sexual assault.
Now, McGregor has suffered yet another significant legal defeat after Ireland’s Court of Appeal dismissed his attempt to appeal a civil jury’s ruling that he sexually assaulted Hand.
The three-judge panel rejected all grounds of McGregor’s appeal, upholding the November 2024 verdict that ordered him to pay Hand over $285,000 in damages and approximately $1.5 million in legal costs.
For Hand, the ruling closes a chapter she says "retraumatised" her.
She attended the appeal hearing and told the press gathered outside the courthouse, “This appeal has retraumatised me over and over again, being forced to relive it, what happened has had a huge impact on me.”
McGregor, on the other hand, receives yet another blow to his already controversial reputation amid a turbulent period.
He was not present for the appeal ruling, and has consistently denied the claims, saying their encounter was consensual and accusing Hand of fabricating the story.
Once the UFC’s biggest star and promotional darling, McGregor hasn’t fought since a 2021 leg injury and has pivoted to political commentary, including anti-immigration rhetoric and a St. Patrick’s Day visit to Donald Trump’s White House. His aspirations for Ireland’s presidency, which floated earlier this year, will now face heightened scrutiny.
Despite his public persona embroiled in controversy, he has still hinted at returning to the Octagon, and even recently posted photos of himself getting drug-tested with the caption, “I piss excellence.”
👀 Conor McGregor is back in the testing pool and was randomly blood and urine tested on his yacht today
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) July 30, 2025
“I piss excellence”
via @TheNotoriousMMApic.twitter.com/Fu3cBZhGCK
The fallout from this verdict could affect and define his legacy far more than any comeback bout.
Related: Conor McGregor Sparks Outrage From White House Visit 'He does not speak for Ireland'
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
