Nikita Hand has described as a ‘victory’ the Supreme Court’s decision to reject Conor McGregor’s bid to appeal a civil jury finding that he assaulted her.
Ms. Hand, a 36-year-old mother of one, won her personal injury claim against the MMA fighter a year ago and was awarded almost €250,000 in damages after alleging he had raped her in a Dublin hotel.
McGregor wanted to overturn the jury finding and have a fresh hearing of the case, by claiming that his ‘right to silence’ was not properly acknowledged.
However, his legal battle is now at an end.
In a statement issued through her solicitors, Coleman Legal, Ms. Hand said: "After seven years seeking justice, accountability and peace, I am pleased to say that the Irish civil justice system has allowed my voice to be heard; it has allowed me to speak my truth. It has afforded me vindication. This in itself is part of the healing process.
"The public and private roads that I and my loved ones have travelled have been long and painful. Today marks not a victory for me but for all of those who have been treated as I have. You are never alone on your journey, if you choose not to be. Help and support is there."
McGregor had filed his appeal with the highest court in the land in September, in the same week that he withdrew his bid to run for President. The Court of Appeal had ruled against him in July, and he faces a €1.3 million legal bill from the trial – a bill that is growing with each challenge.
McGregor claims the jury should never have heard that he answered "no comment" more than 100 times when questioned by gardaí over his alleged rape of Ms. Hand. This was prejudicial to him, he argues.
Judges Elizabeth Dunne, Iseult O’Malley, and former Attorney General Séamus Woulfe considered the matter in their private chambers last month. For the appeal to continue, they had to agree that McGregor’s case raised a matter of general public importance, or if it would be in the interests of justice for it to be heard.
However, in a determination issued on December 4, they said they were not satisfied that either scenario applied.
"The court is satisfied that the applicant has had a fair hearing, notwithstanding the admission of the 'no comment' evidence, followed by a full appeal to the Court of Appeal, and therefore he has had the benefit of his right of appeal," the panel said.
November 2024: Conor McGregor at the High Court in Dublin. (RollingNews.ie)
The Supreme Court also rejected an application for an appeal taken by McGregor’s co-defendant and friend, James Lawrence, who was objecting to legal costs he was ordered to pay despite the jury clearing him of a rape allegation made by Ms. Hand.
Mr. Lawrence had claimed that his case raised novel issues in respect of whether a successful party can be denied their costs, including in a jury action. Ms. Hand had sued Mr. Lawrence for assault after he told gardaí he had consensual sex with her – something she said she had no recollection of.
Ms. Hand had claimed initially that she was too drunk to have given her consent – but during the trial, she changed her claim, saying that she did not believe they ever had sex.
Trial judge Alexander Owens said McGregor and Mr. Lawrence had been acting in ‘lockstep’ in their defence of the action. He said the jury had concluded that Mr. Lawrence did not have consensual sex with Ms. Hand and that the men had concocted the story between themselves.
Mr. Lawrence, who had also failed in his claim before the Court of Appeal, argued that its analysis of the jury verdict should be scrutinised, in circumstances where he claimed it reached a conclusion from the verdict which was not based on a logical inference.
However, the Supreme Court judges said they were satisfied that no issue of general public importance had been raised by Mr. Lawrence. They said they were also satisfied that well-established principles had been followed in deciding on the issue of costs.
They said Mr. Lawrence, 36, of Rafter’s Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, had not advanced any persuasive reasons as to why the decision on costs was erroneous or unjust. Meanwhile, Mr. Lawrence has sued Ms. Hand, accusing her of taking a ‘frivolous legal action’ against him.
November 2024: James Lawrence at the High Court in Dublin. (RollingNews.ie)
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said it welcomed the decision by the Supreme Court not to grant McGregor and Mr. Lawrence further appeals against the outcome of the case.
"It thankfully brings to an end the legal process that has been acutely distressing and difficult, revealing the challenging journey survivors of sexual violence must go on to get any form of justice," it said in a statement.
Rachel Morrogh, the centre’s chief executive, said: "We hope that other survivors take courage and hope from Nikita’s case. Our message to them is: No matter what happened to you, when it was, who did it to you or how it happened, please reach out for support.
"Dublin Rape Crisis Centre runs the National Rape Crisis Helpline, and you will be believed, you will be supported, and you will begin to heal. When you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen on 1800 77 88 88."
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*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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