MMA fighter Conor McGregor has exhausted all legal avenues in his appeal against a civil court ruling that found him liable for assault. The High Court’s decision, which awarded significant damages to plaintiff Nikita Hand, was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court on December 4, 2025, definitively closing the door on McGregor’s challenge.

High Court Verdict and Damages Awarded

The case originated when Nikita Hand sued Conor McGregor in the High Court, alleging he had raped and assaulted her at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Following a trial, a High Court jury in Dublin delivered a verdict in November 2024, finding McGregor civilly liable for the assault. This decision was reached after six hours of deliberation, during which the jury rejected McGregor’s defense that the encounter was entirely consensual.

As a consequence of the verdict, the jury awarded Nikita Hand compensation totaling exactly €248,603.60 (approximately £206,714.31) for the injuries and harm she sustained. Beyond the damages, McGregor was also ordered to cover Ms. Hand’s substantial legal costs incurred during the trial, which were estimated to be around €1.3 million (approximately £1.1 million).

McGregor’s Initial Appeal

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the High Court’s ruling, Conor McGregor initiated an appeal. His legal team presented five distinct grounds for this challenge, aiming to overturn the civil liability finding and the subsequent awards. One of these grounds involved introducing new evidence, specifically an affidavit from a former neighbor of Ms. Hand.

However, prior to the appeal hearing, McGregor’s legal representatives withdrew the ground related to this new evidence. The remaining arguments focused on challenging the precise wording of the jury’s issue paper and contesting the admissibility of evidence pertaining to McGregor’s “no comment” responses during police interviews.

Court of Appeal Upholds Original Judgment

On July 31, 2025, a panel of three judges at the Court of Appeal reviewed McGregor’s remaining grounds for appeal. After careful consideration, the panel unanimously rejected all of McGregor’s arguments. Consequently, the Court of Appeal upheld the original High Court judgment, including the damages awarded to Ms. Hand and the orders for legal costs.

Supreme Court’s Final Rejection

Undeterred, McGregor’s legal team then sought permission to pursue a further appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court considered this application and, on December 4, 2025, definitively refused to hear the case. The court stated that McGregor had already been afforded a fair hearing and that granting a further appeal would not serve the interests of justice.

Conclusion of Legal Proceedings

The Supreme Court’s decision marks the final stage in the legal battle stemming from the 2018 incident. With all appeals exhausted and dismissed, the original High Court verdict, the substantial damages awarded to Nikita Hand, and the associated legal costs remain in full effect. This outcome concludes the civil proceedings initiated by Ms. Hand against the prominent MMA fighter.