Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor has lost an appeal against a civil court ruling that awarded nearly €250,000 in damages to a woman who accused him of rape.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed all grounds raised by McGregor, 36, upholding the 2023 judgment in favour of 35-year-old Nikita Hand. The original case stemmed from an allegation that McGregor raped Hand in a Dublin hotel in 2018.
In addition to the damages, McGregor was previously ordered to cover legal costs, estimated at €1.5 million.
McGregor’s lawyers had argued judicial errors in cross-examination and trial conduct. The UFC star was not present in court during the month-long appeal hearings.
Speaking after the ruling, Hand said the appeal process had “retraumatised” her but expressed relief at the outcome. “To every survivor out there — don’t be silenced. You deserve to be heard.”
McGregor, a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, is also facing a separate civil suit in the U.S. over an alleged sexual assault at an NBA game in 2023. Despite legal challenges, he is expected to pursue a political bid in Ireland, though hurdles remain for his presidential ambitions.
