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| Conor McGregor: MMA fighter loses appeal in civil rape case | Conor McGregor: MMA fighter loses appeal in civil rape case |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Appeal 'retraumatised me', says Nikita Hand | |
| Conor McGregor has lost his civil jury appeal against a finding that he sexually assaulted a woman. | Conor McGregor has lost his civil jury appeal against a finding that he sexually assaulted a woman. |
| In November, McGregor was ordered to pay £206,000 in damages plus costs to Nikita Hand, who accused him of raping her in a hotel in Dublin in 2018. | In November, McGregor was ordered to pay £206,000 in damages plus costs to Nikita Hand, who accused him of raping her in a hotel in Dublin in 2018. |
| McGregor appealed on the grounds that his lawyers believed his answers to police during interviews should not have been put before the jury. | McGregor appealed on the grounds that his lawyers believed his answers to police during interviews should not have been put before the jury. |
| His barrister also argued that a question on the "issue paper" given to the jury to help them decide their verdict should have been worded differently. | His barrister also argued that a question on the "issue paper" given to the jury to help them decide their verdict should have been worded differently. |
| Three senior judges at the Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed the appeal on all grounds. | Three senior judges at the Court of Appeal in Dublin dismissed the appeal on all grounds. |
| Conor McGregor was not in court for the ruling. | Conor McGregor was not in court for the ruling. |
| Nikita Hand attended the hearing with several supporters. | Nikita Hand attended the hearing with several supporters. |
| In relation to the police interviews, the court found McGregor's lawyers had not proved there was "a real risk of unfair trial". | In relation to the police interviews, the court found McGregor's lawyers had not proved there was "a real risk of unfair trial". |
| During the original case, the jury heard that McGregor said "no comment" around 100 times when he was interviewed by police. | During the original case, the jury heard that McGregor said "no comment" around 100 times when he was interviewed by police. |
| McGregor, pictured at an earlier court appearance, denied all of the allegations | |
| The issue paper asked the jurors if Conor McGregor had assaulted Ms Hand. | The issue paper asked the jurors if Conor McGregor had assaulted Ms Hand. |
| McGregor's lawyers argued it should have specified "sexual assault" rather than "assault". | McGregor's lawyers argued it should have specified "sexual assault" rather than "assault". |
| But the appeal judges said that it was "simply unreal" to suggest that any member of the jury could have become confused about meaning of the question. | But the appeal judges said that it was "simply unreal" to suggest that any member of the jury could have become confused about meaning of the question. |
| They gave a unanimous ruling that McGregor's appeal should be dismissed "in its entirety". | They gave a unanimous ruling that McGregor's appeal should be dismissed "in its entirety". |
| McGregor's friend, James Lawrence, also lost his appeal against the decision that he should pay costs, even though the jury found he did not assault Nikita Hand. | McGregor's friend, James Lawrence, also lost his appeal against the decision that he should pay costs, even though the jury found he did not assault Nikita Hand. |
| Ms Hand had claimed in her action that Conor McGregor and James Lawrence both raped her. | Ms Hand had claimed in her action that Conor McGregor and James Lawrence both raped her. |
| The men said they both had consensual sex with her. | The men said they both had consensual sex with her. |
| 'Retraumatised me over and over' | 'Retraumatised me over and over' |
| Speaking outside court, Ms Hand said she was grateful for the support she has received throughout the civil action. | Speaking outside court, Ms Hand said she was grateful for the support she has received throughout the civil action. |
| "This appeal has retraumatised me over and over again, being forced to relive it, what happened has had a huge impact on me," she said. | "This appeal has retraumatised me over and over again, being forced to relive it, what happened has had a huge impact on me," she said. |
| Ms Hand added: "To every survivor out there, I know how hard it is, but please, don't be silenced. | Ms Hand added: "To every survivor out there, I know how hard it is, but please, don't be silenced. |
| "You deserve to be heard, you also deserve justice. Today, I can finally move on and try to heal." | "You deserve to be heard, you also deserve justice. Today, I can finally move on and try to heal." |
| Nikita Hand said she was "overwhelmed" by support after taking the case against McGregor | Nikita Hand said she was "overwhelmed" by support after taking the case against McGregor |
| What was the basis for McGregor's appeal? | What was the basis for McGregor's appeal? |
| The appeal was based around several issues arising from the civil trial at Dublin's High Court last year. | The appeal was based around several issues arising from the civil trial at Dublin's High Court last year. |
| They included reference to the question "did Conor McGregor assault Nikita Hand?" being asked of the jury on the issue paper. | They included reference to the question "did Conor McGregor assault Nikita Hand?" being asked of the jury on the issue paper. |
| Conor McGregor's legal team said it should have specified sexual assault. | Conor McGregor's legal team said it should have specified sexual assault. |
| However, a barrister for Ms Hand said "assault" covers a wide variety of assaults adding "what we were dealing with was assault by rape". | However, a barrister for Ms Hand said "assault" covers a wide variety of assaults adding "what we were dealing with was assault by rape". |
| He added the question put to the jury "was agreed and the jury could not have been confused by it". | He added the question put to the jury "was agreed and the jury could not have been confused by it". |
| McGregor was also appealing an issue around the handling of his answers in interviews with gardaí (Irish police officers). | McGregor was also appealing an issue around the handling of his answers in interviews with gardaí (Irish police officers). |
| His legal team explained that the jury heard McGregor gave about 100 "no comment" answers to gardaí. | His legal team explained that the jury heard McGregor gave about 100 "no comment" answers to gardaí. |
| His barrister said he had a right to silence in police interviews and it was "left hanging", allowing the jury to draw an adverse inference. | His barrister said he had a right to silence in police interviews and it was "left hanging", allowing the jury to draw an adverse inference. |
| Ms Hand's legal team countered this argument by saying that if this was such a serious issue for McGregor at the time "surely an application to discharge the jury would have been made". | Ms Hand's legal team countered this argument by saying that if this was such a serious issue for McGregor at the time "surely an application to discharge the jury would have been made". |
| Her barrister said such an application was not made. | Her barrister said such an application was not made. |
| McGregor's legal appeal was also raising an issue about the judge's charge to the jury during the civil trial. | McGregor's legal appeal was also raising an issue about the judge's charge to the jury during the civil trial. |
| Withdrawal of evidence | Withdrawal of evidence |
| At the beginning of the process, Ireland's Court of Appeal was told that McGregor had withdrawn an application to have new evidence entered at the appeal. | At the beginning of the process, Ireland's Court of Appeal was told that McGregor had withdrawn an application to have new evidence entered at the appeal. |
| The proposed evidence was from a couple, Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, who are former neighbours of Nikita Hand. | The proposed evidence was from a couple, Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, who are former neighbours of Nikita Hand. |
| A previous preliminary hearing was told that they claimed to have witnessed a row between Ms Hand and her former partner Stephen Redmond in December 2018. | A previous preliminary hearing was told that they claimed to have witnessed a row between Ms Hand and her former partner Stephen Redmond in December 2018. |
| The court heard McGregor believed the new evidence suggested that bruising on Nikita Hand's body could have been caused by her former partner. | The court heard McGregor believed the new evidence suggested that bruising on Nikita Hand's body could have been caused by her former partner. |
| In an affidavit, Ms Hand had described the allegations as untrue and lies. | In an affidavit, Ms Hand had described the allegations as untrue and lies. |
| The senior judges said it was "somewhat mysterious" that what they described as an "important and contentious" part of the appeal had been "cast aside". | The senior judges said it was "somewhat mysterious" that what they described as an "important and contentious" part of the appeal had been "cast aside". |
| They awarded Ms Hand costs in relation to this aspect of the case. | They awarded Ms Hand costs in relation to this aspect of the case. |