The former UFC champion Conor McGregor has been found liable for sexual assault in a civil lawsuit filed in Ireland.

A jury in Dublin reached a guilty verdict on Friday, concluding that McGregor sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in December 2018. Hand lodged a civil suit in early 2021, claiming that McGregor and another man, James Lawrence, engaged with her sexually without her consent while she was intoxicated. Criminal charges were not pursued.

According to Paul Healy of the Irish Mirror, who covered the trial, the jury awarded damages totaling around €250,000 (approximately equivalent in U.S. dollars). They took just over six hours to reach their verdict.

The jury determined that Lawrence was not responsible for the assault. Hand’s attorney argued in court that both McGregor and Lawrence attempted to shift blame onto Lawrence instead of McGregor.

Hand was seeking various damages—general, special, aggravated, and punitive—for the incident and for her mental health struggles that affected her work, as stated in court records. Reports indicated she sought damages ranging from $1.79 million to $2.13 million.

During the trial, McGregor and his lawyers were present, along with his wife, Dee Devlin, and their four children, the first of whom was born in late 2017. McGregor testified that he had a sexual encounter with Hand in 2018 but claimed it was consensual.

Since his last fight in July 2021, where he lost to Dustin Poirier by TKO, McGregor has not stepped into the octagon. He has not held a UFC title in over eight years, as that title was taken from him due to his inactivity. Although he was scheduled to coach on “The Ultimate Fighter” against Michael Chandler and possibly fight him afterwards, that match has not yet taken place.

Conor McGregor announces intention to appeal the verdict

Following the decision, McGregor expressed his disappointment on social media and stated he intends to appeal. He mentioned that he is concentrating on his family and his future.

Shortly after the verdict, Hand addressed the media with a prepared statement.

“I’m overwhelmed. I’m grateful for the support I’ve received from everyone,” Hand stated. “My daughter has given me the strength and courage to continue fighting for justice over these six years through this nightmare. I want to show her and everyone else that if you face a wrong, you can stand up for yourself—regardless of who is involved—and that justice will prevail.”