MMA Star McGregor Loses Appeal In Rape Case
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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor lost an appeal in Ireland on Thursday over a civil court ruling last year awarding damages to a woman who accused him of rape.<\/strong><\/p>\n Three judges at the Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed all the grounds for appeal raised by McGregor, 36.<\/span><\/p>\n Jurors at Dublin\u2019s High Court in November awarded damages of almost \u20ac250,000 ($258,000) to Nikita Hand, 35, who alleged that McGergor raped her in a hotel in the Irish capital in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n The court heard allegations that McGregor\u00a0\u201cbrutally raped and battered\u201d Hand. <\/span><\/p>\n The Irish sports star has insisted they had consensual sex.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Hand lost an assault lawsuit against a second man.<\/span><\/p>\n Following the November ruling, McGregor was ordered to pay the entire costs of the case, estimated at around \u20ac1.5 million ($1.58 million).<\/span><\/p>\n He appealed the jury\u2019s decision, seeking a re-trial of the civil case against him.<\/span><\/p>\n McGregor, a vocal figure in the Irish anti-immigration movement who in March met US President Donald Trump in the White House during a Saint Patrick\u2019s Day visit, was not in court during a month of appeal hearings.<\/span><\/p>\n His legal team argued that judicial errors occurred in the original trial, including\u00a0in how he was cross-examined.<\/span><\/p>\n After the ruling, Hand told reporters that the appeal had \u201cretraumatised\u201d her but that she can now \u201cfinally move on and try to heal\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTo every survivor out there, I know how hard it is, but please don\u2019t be silenced, you deserve to be heard, you also deserve justice,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n Nicknamed \u201cThe Notorious,\u201d McGregor is one of the biggest stars in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) mixed martial arts circuit, formerly holding the featherweight and lightweight titles.<\/span><\/p>\n The Irishman was sued in a US court in January, accused of sexual assault at an NBA game in Miami in 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n He has announced plans to run in Ireland\u2019s presidential election this year.<\/span><\/p>\n