Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor on Thursday lost his appeal against a civil court ruling that awarded nearly €250,000 in damages to a woman who accused him of rape.
A three-judge panel at Ireland’s Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed all grounds raised by McGregor, 36, seeking to overturn the November 2023 High Court verdict in favour of Nikita Hand, 35.
Hand had alleged that McGregor raped and assaulted her at a Dublin hotel in 2018. While McGregor insisted the encounter was consensual, jurors ruled in Hand’s favour. She lost a related assault case against another man.
The High Court also ordered McGregor to cover the full legal costs, estimated at around €1.5 million.
McGregor’s legal team had argued that procedural errors—particularly during cross-examination—warranted a retrial. However, the appeals court upheld the original decision.
Speaking after the verdict, Hand said the appeal process had retraumatised her but expressed relief that she could “finally move on and try to heal.” She urged other survivors to speak out, saying, “You deserve to be heard. You also deserve justice.”
Nicknamed “The Notorious,” McGregor remains one of UFC’s biggest names and a former dual-weight champion. He also faces a separate sexual assault lawsuit in the United States linked to an incident during an NBA game in Miami in 2023.
McGregor, who did not attend the month-long appeal proceedings, has announced plans to run in Ireland’s upcoming presidential election—despite facing significant eligibility hurdles.