Conor McGregor, a former champion in two UFC divisions, has been held liable for a sexual assault that occurred in 2018, according to a civil lawsuit in Ireland.

On Friday, a jury in Dublin determined that McGregor assaulted Nikita Hand in December 2018. Hand initiated a civil lawsuit in early 2021, stating that she was intoxicated and that McGregor and another man, James Lawrence, engaged in sexual acts with her without her consent. However, criminal charges were not pressed.

The jury, as reported by Irish Mirror journalist Paul Healy, concluded after just over six hours of deliberation, awarding Mrs. Hand approximately €250,000 (equivalent to about the same in U.S. dollars). They decided that Lawrence was not responsible for the assault, and during the trial, Hand’s lawyer argued that McGregor and Lawrence had coordinated to shift the blame away from McGregor.

In her pursuit of damages, Hand sought compensatory, special, aggravated, and punitive damages due to the lasting impact on her mental health that hindered her ability to work, as outlined in court documents. Back in 2021, she was seeking between $1.79 million and $2.13 million in damages.

Both McGregor and his legal team were present during the verdict, along with his wife, Dee Devlin, and their four children, the eldest of whom was born in late 2017. Under oath, McGregor confessed to having had sexual relations with Hand during the incident but insisted that it was consensual.

Since suffering a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, McGregor has not participated in any fights. It has been over eight years since he last held a UFC title, which was stripped from him after he failed to defend it. Although he was scheduled to coach on “The Ultimate Fighter” against Michael Chandler and subsequently fight him, that match has yet to be realized.

McGregor Plans to Appeal the Decision

Following the verdict, McGregor expressed his disappointment via social media and announced his intention to appeal the decision. He added that he is currently with his family and concentrating on his future.

Outside the courthouse, Hand addressed reporters with a prepared statement shortly after the verdict was delivered.

“I feel overwhelmed and deeply grateful for the support I’ve received, ” Hand stated. “My daughter has been my source of strength throughout these six challenging years, helping me persevere in my quest for justice. I want to inspire her and all children that if something wrong happens to you, you have the power to stand up, regardless of who is involved, and that justice can be achieved.”

(This story and its headline have been revised for clarity.)