Conor McGregor loses civil rape case and forced to pay £206,000 in damages to victim
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The jury in a civil case against Conor McGregor have ruled he did sexually assault Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in 2018.
A second defendant, James Lawrence, was ruled not to have assaulted Ms Hand.
McGregor has been ordered to pay £206,000 in total damages to Ms Hand after the verdict.
The former two-weight UFC champion faced allegations that he 'sexually assaulted her, and in effect, raped her' in a hotel room six years ago.
Conor McGregor was facing rape allegations
REUTERS
Both Lawrence and McGregor denied the allegations against them both.
The mixed martial arts fighter told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel in December 2018.
McGregor was alleged to have pinned the defendant down on the bed and 'brutally raped and battered' her.
The jury was told that Ms Hand was left with serious injuries, including bruising on her body and a bloodied scratch to her breast.
Ms Hand also stated she had a tampon removed with forceps in hospital after the alleged rape.
Dr Basil John Farnan, who was the final witness in the trial, was asked about women having sex while using a tampon and called the question 'peculiar'.
The jury of eight women and four men were sent off to continue its deliberations at the High Court in Dublin on Friday afternoon.
They had indicated to the judge, Mr Justice Alex Owens, that deliberations would continue until 6pm this evening.
The jury ruled in favour of Nikita Hand
REUTERS
But the jury returned to the courtroom just before 5pm where they ruled in favour of Ms Hand's claims against McGregor.
The Irish sportsman sat with his fiance Dee Devlin and mother Margaret as the verdict was read out.
McGregor was said to have shook his head after the jury's decision was read out in court.
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James Lawrence was ruled not to have assaulted Nikita Hand
REUTERS
Ms Hand, was in tears after the verdict as she hugged her partner and supporters.
She spoke to the media outside of the Dublin High Court following the verdict.
Ms Hand said: "I want to show Freya, and every 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."
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