Two people released without charge over alleged perjury linked to Hand-McGregor civil case
Steven Cummins, a man in his 30s, and Samantha O'Reilly, a woman in her 30s, were arrested in Dublin on Thursday morning (one report says Wednesday) over alleged perjury linked to the civil case between Nikita Hand and Conor McGregor. The couple, who lived across the road from Hand in Drimnagh, had been introduced by McGregor as new evidence in his appeal, claiming to have seen Hand's then boyfriend assault her on the night of his alleged rape in December 2018, but their evidence was dramatically withdrawn by his own counsel on the morning of the hearing. The Court of Appeal heavily criticised McGregor's conduct, and he lost his appeal on 31 July 2025 after a High Court jury had found he had assaulted Hand at the Beacon Hotel and ordered him to pay almost €250,000 in damages. The DPP directed the Garda to investigate, with the NBCI leading the inquiry, and the couple were released without charge the same day, with a file to be prepared for the DPP. The couple have continued to deny the allegations and are also facing a High Court civil case lodged by Hand.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested11 Sep
3 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Steven Cummins and Samantha O'Reilly were arrested over alleged perjury linked to the civil case between Nikita Hand and Conor McGregor.
- The couple had claimed to have seen Hand's then boyfriend assault her on the night of McGregor's alleged rape in December 2018, and McGregor introduced them as new evidence in his appeal.
- The couple's evidence was dramatically withdrawn by McGregor's own counsel on the morning of his appeal, and the Court of Appeal heavily criticised McGregor for his conduct.
- The couple were released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP, with investigations ongoing.
- Where
- The couple lived across the road from Hand in Drimnagh, Dublin, and were arrested in Dublin.
- When
- The arrest took place early on Thursday morning (one report says Wednesday morning) on 11 September 2025.
- In court
- McGregor lost his appeal on 31 July 2025 against a High Court jury's finding that he had assaulted Hand at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin in December 2018.
- The couple are also facing a High Court civil case after Hand lodged papers against them and McGregor.
- Sentence
- McGregor was ordered to pay Hand almost €250,000 in damages.
- Investigation
- The DPP directed the Garda to conduct a criminal investigation, with the NBCI leading it, after a court directed aspects of the case be sent to the DPP.
- Other details
- The couple have continued to deny the allegations.
- Perjury prosecutions are rare in Ireland, with just one prosecution under the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021 and five DPP prosecutions over the past decade.
31 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSteven Cummins and Samantha O'Reilly were arrested by gardai on Wednesday morning over alleged perjury. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe couple have continued to deny the allegations. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMcGregor introduced O'Reilly and Cummins as new evidence in the case. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe evidence of the couple was dramatically withdrawn by McGregor's own counsel on the morning of his appeal earlier this year. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe couple had claimed to have seen Ms Hand's then boyfriend assault her on the night of McGregor's alleged sex attack in December 2018. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMs Hand denies any altercation with her former partner. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe court heard Ms Hand characterised the claims from O'Reilly and Cummins as lies. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe Court of Appeal heavily criticised McGregor for his conduct and attempt to introduce and then withdraw the so-called new evidence. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatTwo people were arrested for alleged perjury relating to the civil case between Nikita Hand and Conor McGregor (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two suspects, a man and a woman in their 30s, were released without charge (irishtimes.com)
- whereO'Reilly and Cummins lived across the road from Hand in Drimnagh, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe couple had been living across the road from Ms Hand in Dublin's Drimnagh. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe suspects were arrested in Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe arrest took place early on Thursday morning (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo people were arrested as part of a perjury investigation stemming from the civil case against Conor McGregor for rape (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe DPP directed the Garda to conduct an investigation, with the NBCI leading it (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThey are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda stations in the Dublin area. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationA file will be prepared for the DPP and investigations are ongoing (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe couple are facing a High Court case after Ms Hand lodged papers against them and Conor McGregor. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtMcGregor lost his appeal on July 31 of this year of a High Court jury's finding that he raped her in the Beacon Hotel in Dublin in December 2018. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe investigation commenced because a court directed aspects of the case be sent to the DPP, who then directed the Garda to conduct a criminal investigation (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcGregor was ordered to pay Hand almost €250,000 in damages after a High Court jury found he had assaulted her in a Dublin hotel (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcGregor was ordered to pay Nikita Hand €250,000 damages after a High Court jury found he had assaulted her in a Dublin hotel (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcGregor lost his appeal against the jury finding in July (irishtimes.com)
- otherHand sued McGregor for alleged rape at the Beacon hotel on 9 December 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe pair were held in a Dublin Garda station for interview and could be questioned for 24 hours (irishtimes.com)
- otherPerjury investigations are rare and prosecutions are rarer still (irishtimes.com)
- otherJust one prosecution has been taken under the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe DPP has brought five prosecutions for perjury over the past decade (irishtimes.com)
- otherOf the five prosecutions since 2015, three resulted in conviction, one in a decision not to prosecute because the suspect had died, and one is outstanding (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcGregor is currently seeking a nomination to run for the Irish presidency (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Sep2025Suspects arrested over alleged perjury linked to Hand-McGregor case released without charge
Reports the arrest and release without charge of two suspects in the perjury investigation arising from the Hand-McGregor civil case, and provides background on how the DPP-directed investigation commenced after evidence was withdrawn during McGregor's appeal.
suspect, 30s, female, irish (judged from name)suspect, Steven Cummins, 30s, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Steven Cumminsvictim, Nikita Hand, femaleNikita Handsuspect, Conor McGregor, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Conor McGregor - 11 Sep2025Dublin couple arrested over alleged perjury in Conor McGregor's failed appeal
Provides the names of the arrested couple (Steven Cummins and Samantha O'Reilly), details their role as witnesses in the McGregor appeal, confirms they are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and notes they are also facing a High Court civil case lodged by Ms Hand.
suspect, Steven Cummins, 30s, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Steven Cumminssuspect, Samantha O'Reilly, 30s, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Samantha O'Reillyvictim, female, irish (judged from name)suspect, Conor McGregor, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Conor McGregor - 11 Sep2025Gardaí arrest two as part of Conor McGregor perjury inquiry
Identifies the witnesses whose sworn statements (Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins) were at the centre of the perjury matter, provides background on the civil case and appeal, and notes the rarity of perjury prosecutions in Ireland.
suspect, Steven Cummins, 30s, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Steven Cumminssuspect, 30s, female, irish (judged from name)suspect, Conor McGregor, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Conor McGregorvictim, Nikita Hand, femaleNikita Hand