Ireland’s Supreme Court refuses to hear Conor McGregor’s appeal

Mohan Sinha
06 Dec 2025, 14:58 GMT+10

Nikita Hand said the Irish civil justice system “has allowed my voice to be heard” after the Supreme Court decided not to hear appeals from Conor McGregor and James Lawrence in her civil case
Hand, also known as Nikita Ní Laimhín, successfully sued McGregor last year over an incident in a south Dublin hotel in December 2018, where he was alleged to have “brutally raped and battered” her
She was awarded nearly 250,000 euros in damages, and McGregor was ordered to pay around 1.3 million euros in legal costs

DUBLIN, Ireland: Nikita Hand said the Irish civil justice system "has allowed my voice to be heard" after the Supreme Court decided not to hear appeals from Conor McGregor and James Lawrence in her civil case.

Hand, also known as Nikita Ní Laimhín, successfully sued McGregor last year over an incident in a south Dublin hotel in December 2018, where he was alleged to have "brutally raped and battered" her. She was awarded nearly 250,000 euros in damages, and McGregor was ordered to pay around 1.3 million euros in legal costs.

The jury did not find that Lawrence assaulted Hand, but the judge ruled she would not have to pay his legal costs.

McGregor had asked the Supreme Court to examine his cross-examination during the trial, specifically about "no comment" answers he gave in a Garda interview. On December 4, the judges said he had received a fair hearing and refused his appeal.

Lawrence also tried to appeal the decision on costs, but the court rejected his request, saying the lower court followed established rules.

In a statement issued through her solicitors, Hand said she and her loved ones had been through a "long and painful" journey. She called the decision a "victory for the justice system," thanked the medical and legal teams who supported her, and encouraged other survivors to seek help.

"To all of us who have made or are about to make this difficult journey towards justice: our voice is the most powerful thing we have—don't be afraid to use it," she said.

Hand also thanked the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. Its chief executive, Rachel Morrogh, said they were proud to support her and hoped other survivors would find strength in her case.