Courts / Dublin / Report

Conor McGregor claims to have new witness evidence of assault on Nikita Hand hours after she says she was raped

Date
2025-05-02
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Sandyford
County
Dublin

Summary

In the Court of Appeal on 2 May 2025, Conor McGregor's lawyers presented new evidence from a woman who claimed to have witnessed Nikita Hand being assaulted by her former partner at Hand's home. The woman swore an affidavit that she saw Hand being pushed and, judging from the man's body movements, believed he had kicked her after pushing her to the ground. She had come forward after reading about the civil trial in the media and had also sent McGregor an Instagram message, though the timing was not specified. Hand, who had been awarded €248,000 in damages after a civil jury found McGregor had raped and battered her, disputed the woman's claims in her own affidavit. The Court of Appeal will cross‑examine the two proposed witnesses before allowing their evidence into McGregor's appeal, with a hearing scheduled for 1 July. The case remains focused on the credibility of the new witnesses and the alleged new evidence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Conor McGregor claims to have new witness evidence of assault on Nikita Hand hours after she says she was raped. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed woman

Defendant

Outcome: Mr Justice Noonan then adjourned the application to introduce new evidence to July 1 for a three-day hearing on the matter. ***** The High Court previously heard that Mr McGregor's side will say the trial judge, Mr Justice Alex Owens, made legal and factual errors in his directions on the treatment of evidence and in his charge to the jury.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • The High Court
Facility
  • Rotunda Hospital
Secondary Mention
Residence
  • Rafter's Road

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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