Conor McGregor has spoken out after he was found liable for the sexual assault of a woman in a Dublin hotel.
Following a two-week trial which features eight days of evidence at Dublin High Court, a jury of eight men and four women decided McGregor had sexually assaulted Nikita Ni Laimhin, also known as Nikita Hand. Ms. Hand had sued McGregor for sexual assault following an encounter in December 2018.
Following the decision, McGregor revealed he will be appealing the decision. He released a statement which read: “I will be appealing today’s decision. The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages.
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“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.”
The Irishman shook his head when the verdict was delivered at Dublin High Court. He had testified that he never forced Ms. Hand to do anything against her will and fabricated the allegations following consensual sex.
McGregor was quizzed by reporters and mobbed by cameras as he left court but refused to comment. Alongside his partner Dee Devlin, he was rushed into the back the back of a car and left the scene without answering any of the questions fired his way.
The UFC icon will now have to pay $257,000 in damages. However, Ms. Hand did speak at court as she emotionally thanked her friends and family before offering a heartfelt message to victims.
“I am overwhelmed by the support I have received from everybody,” she said outside of court. “I want to thank my legal team and my three barristers, they have bene 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.
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Nikita Hand spoke to media outside the High Court in Dublin following the verdict (
Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
“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 women 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.*******************
“I want to thank my partner who has been so supportive for the last four years and has held my hand throughout this trial every day. I want to thank my mum and all my family and friends. I want to thank my daughter who I am most grateful for. She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six yers through this nightmare to keep pushing forward for justice. I want tot show her and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.
“To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder that 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 it 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 with my family, friends and daughter.”
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