Conor McGregor to appeal to Supreme Court over civil rape finding
On 9 December 2018, Nikita Hand, a woman, alleged she was assaulted at the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford, South Dublin, by Conor McGregor, a man, and James Lawrence, a 36-year-old man. No criminal prosecution was pursued after a Garda investigation found inadequate evidence. In November 2024, a High Court civil jury found McGregor liable for assault and awarded Hand almost €250,000 in damages, while rejecting the claim against Lawrence. McGregor lost his Court of Appeal challenge in July 2025. In September 2025, McGregor and Lawrence filed applications with the Supreme Court seeking leave to appeal the civil finding.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 Sep
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Nikita Hand, a woman, alleged she was assaulted at the Beacon Hotel by Conor McGregor, a man, and James Lawrence, a 36-year-old man.
- Where
- The alleged assault took place at the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford, South Dublin.
- When
- The alleged assault occurred on 9 December 2018.
- Investigation
- No criminal prosecution was pursued due to absence of adequate evidence after a Garda investigation.
- The DPP directed a Garda investigation into possible perjury over withdrawn evidence, leading to the arrest of a man and a woman who were released without charge.
- In court
- A High Court civil jury in November 2024 found McGregor liable for assault and awarded Hand almost €250,000 in damages.
- The jury rejected Hand's claim that Lawrence had assaulted her.
- McGregor lost his Court of Appeal challenge in July 2025.
- Applications on behalf of McGregor and Lawrence were filed with the Supreme Court on 16 September 2025 seeking leave to appeal.
- Other details
- Lawrence's legal costs were paid by McGregor.
- McGregor told the court he had consensual sex with Hand.
- Lawrence is 36 years old and lives on Rafters Road, Drimnagh.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe alleged rape took place at the Beacon Hotel in South Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged rape occurred on 9 December 2018 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe withdrawn evidence is being investigated by gardaí for possible perjury (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe DPP directed the Garda to conduct an investigation into possible perjury, which led to the arrest of a man and woman. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man and woman arrested for the perjury investigation were released without charge and a file will be sent to the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationNo criminal prosecution was pursued due to absence of adequate evidence after a Garda investigation (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJames Lawrence initiated legal proceedings against Nikita Hand in the High Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtA High Court civil jury found Lawrence did not assault Hand at the Beacon Hotel, Sandyford, Dublin on 9 December 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury found McGregor did assault Hand and awarded her almost €250,000 in damages (irishtimes.com)
- courtMcGregor filed an application seeking a further appeal to the Supreme Court over the civil jury finding. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA panel of three Supreme Court judges will decide whether the appeal meets the necessary criteria. (irishtimes.com)
- courtApplications on behalf of McGregor and Lawrence were filed with the Supreme Court on Wednesday, 16 September 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMcGregor is appealing to the Supreme Court to overturn the civil jury finding (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMcGregor was found civilly liable in November 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMcGregor lost his Court of Appeal challenge in July 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury rejected Hand's claim that Lawrence had assaulted her (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe civil jury found McGregor liable for assault (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHand was awarded almost €250,000 in damages (irishmirror.ie)
- otherLawrence's legal costs were paid by Conor McGregor (irishtimes.com)
- otherLawrence is 36 years old and lives on Rafters Road, Drimnagh (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcGregor instructed new lawyers, Mulholland Law, to represent him in the Supreme Court application. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNo criminal prosecution was ever pursued in the case. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcGregor told the court he had consensual sex with Hand (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Sep2025Conor McGregor going to Supreme Court following Nikita Hand jury finding
McGregor and Lawrence are seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal dismissed their challenge in July 2025. McGregor's application centres on his constitutional right to silence; Lawrence's concerns the denial of costs despite the jury rejecting the assault claim against him.
victim, Nikita Hand, femaleNikita Handaccused, Conor McGregor, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor McGregoraccused, James Lawrence, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Lawrence - 18 Sep2025Conor McGregor seeks permission from Supreme Court for further appeal over ruling in favour of Nikita Hand
Details the Supreme Court application filed by new lawyers Mulholland Law, McGregor's focus on his right to silence, Lawrence's separate malicious abuse of process proceedings, the DPP perjury investigation that led to two arrests, and the withdrawal of new evidence by O'Reilly and Cummins during the CoA hearing.
victim, Nikita Hand, femaleNikita Handsuspect, Conor McGregor, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor McGregorsuspect, James Lawrence, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Lawrence - 5 Sep2025James Lawrence sues Nikita Hand over civil court case
Reports that Mulholland Law has initiated new High Court proceedings on behalf of James Lawrence seeking damages for alleged 'abuse of process', and provides the Court of Appeal's reasoning for not awarding him costs, including that the jury must not have accepted his evidence of consensual sex and that his costs were paid by McGregor in an arrangement 'shrouded in mystery'.
victim, Nikita Hand, female, irish (judged from name)Nikita Handaccused, James Lawrence, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Lawrenceaccused, Conor McGregor, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor McGregor