Conor McGregor refused further appeal over civil rape finding

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Supreme Court refused Conor McGregor permission for a further appeal against the civil jury finding that he assaulted Nikita Hand. The decision was reported on 4 December 2025.

Ms Hand had alleged that McGregor raped her at the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford, Dublin, on 9 December 2018. He denied rape and said they had consensual sex. On 22 November 2024, a High Court jury found against him and awarded Ms Hand almost €250,000 in damages.

On 5 December 2024, Mr Justice Alexander Owens ordered McGregor to pay Ms Hand’s legal costs on the normal party-party basis. He dismissed her claim against James Lawrence, whom the jury found had not assaulted her, and ordered each side to pay its own costs for that claim.

In January 2025, the judge stayed the damages and costs awards on condition that McGregor immediately pay €100,000 of the damages and €200,000 in costs. On 31 July 2025, the Court of Appeal dismissed McGregor’s appeal and ordered that Ms Hand receive her High Court and appeal costs against him. It also dismissed Lawrence’s appeal over the refusal of his costs.

McGregor’s Supreme Court application focused on his right to silence. The Supreme Court noted that the Court of Appeal had found it was wrong to allow cross-examination about his ‘no comment’ answers to gardaí. The Court of Appeal nevertheless found no established real risk of an unfair trial: Owens had made clear the jury could not treat those answers as supporting the rape allegation.

The Supreme Court panel found no issue of general public importance and was not satisfied that a further appeal was required in the interests of justice. It said McGregor had received a fair hearing. The panel also refused Lawrence’s bid for a further appeal on costs.