Conor McGregor calls Nikita Hand ‘vicious liar’ after assault case loss | Other | Sport

Conor McGregor has branded Nikita Hand a “vicious liar” on social media after protesting the decision of a civil trial that found he had assaulted the woman in a Dublin hotel in 2018.

After Ms Hand had claimed that “justice has been served” when McGregor was ordered to pay over £200,000 for damages, the UFC star promised to appeal the decision and raged on X (formerly known as Twitter).

He wrote: “Justice was served for James Lawrence, yes! Deplorable what they done. Nikita hand, vicious liar! APPEAL!”

A jury found that the Irish mixed martial arts fighter assaulted Ms Hand and speaking outside the court she said her story was “a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be to speak up, you have a voice”.

She had also taken a case against another man, James Lawrence, 35, alleging that he assaulted her by having sex with her without her consent. The jury found that he did not assault her.

Both men had denied the claims by the 35-year-old hair colourist and said they separately had consensual sex with Ms Hand at the hotel almost six years ago.

After eight days of evidence and three days listening to closing speeches and Judge Owens’ comments, the jury of eight women and four men spent six hours and 10 minutes deliberating.

McGregor was reported to have shook his head after the jury read out that Ms Hand had won her case against him.

Before describing Ms Hand as a “liar” on social media, McGregor confirmed that he would seek to appeal the court’s decision in a statement.

“I will be appealing today’s decision,” he wrote on Friday. “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. Thank you to all my support worldwide.”

Speaking outside of the High Court in Dublin following the verdict, Ms Hand expressed her relief of the decision. “I am overwhelmed by the support I have received from everybody,” she said.

“I want to thank my legal team and my three barristers, they have been amazing from start to finish. I want to thank the justice, the jury and all the witnesses.

“I want to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone at the sexual assault unit at the Rotunda assault unit, especially my own doctor. I want to thank the rape advice centre, I want to thank all the guards and the ambulance crew.

“I want to thank the men and woman who have supported me throughout this trial. For every person who reached out to me, a card, email, everything, it has not gone unnoticed. Thank you I really appreciate it so much..

She added: “To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder you have a voice and to keep on fighting for justice. I know this has impacted my life, my daughter’s, my family and friends’ tremendously and is something I will 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 wit my family, friends and daughter.”