Background of the Case

In November 2023, MMA fighter Conor McGregor was ordered to pay £206,000 in damages plus legal costs to Nikita Hand after a Dublin High Court civil jury found him liable for sexual assault during a 2018 incident at a Dublin hotel. The ruling followed a high-profile trial that drew international attention to Ireland's judicial system.

Failed Appeal and Controversial Evidence

McGregor's attempt to overturn the verdict collapsed on Thursday when Ireland's Court of Appeal rejected his bid. Key to the failed appeal was McGregor's withdrawn application to introduce new evidence from Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins – former neighbors of Hand – who claimed to have witnessed a December 2018 altercation between Hand and her ex-partner.

Court documents revealed:

• McGregor's legal team argued this evidence could explain bruising on Hand's body
• Hand filed an affidavit denouncing the claims as "untrue and lies"
• Judges criticized the sudden withdrawal of this "contentious" evidence as "mysterious"

New Lawsuit Targets McGregor and Associates

Hand's legal team has now initiated fresh proceedings seeking additional damages from:

1. Conor McGregor
2. Samantha O'Reilly
3. Steven Cummins

The lawsuit alleges malicious abuse of court processes, claiming the appeal's withdrawn evidence constituted a coordinated effort to discredit Hand's testimony.

Impact on McGregor's Career

This legal development comes amid:

• Ongoing investigations into a fire at McGregor's Dublin pub, the Black Forge Inn
• Planned return to UFC competition in 2024
• Growing scrutiny of athlete conduct in combat sports

Survivor's Statement

Outside court, Hand stated:

"This appeal has retraumatized me... To every survivor out there – don't be silenced. You deserve justice."

The case continues to spark debates about athlete accountability and legal protections for assault survivors in professional sports.