Nikita Hand insisted she has been “overwhelmed by the support I have received” after winning her civil case against Conor McGregor, whom she accused of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018
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Conor McGregor arrives at High Court in Dublin
Nikita Hand says that she hopes her story encourages victims of sexual assault to keep on fighting for justice after winning her claim against Conor McGregor for damages in a High Court civil case.
Former UFC champion McGregor had faced an accusation that he “brutally raped and battered” Ms Hand at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. He previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel, but she was duly awarded £200k in total damages on Friday afternoon.
Speaking after the civil case had reached its conclusion, Ms Hand said: “I am overwhelmed by the support i have received from everybody. I want to thank my legal team and my three barristers, they have been amazing rom start to finish.
“I want to thank the justice, the jury and all the witnesses. I want to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone at the sexual assault unit at the Rotunda assault unit, especially my own doctor. I want to thank the rape advice centre, I want to thank all the guards and the ambulance crew. I want to thank the men and woman who have supported me throughout this trial.
“For every person who reached out to me, a card, email, everything, it has not gone unnoticed. Thank you i really appreciate it so much.
“I want to thank my partner who has been so supportive for the last four years and has held my hand throughout this trial every day. I want to thank my mum and all my family and friends. I want to thank my daughter who I am most grateful for.
Image:
PA)
Image:
PA)
“She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years through this nightmare to keep pushing forward for justice. I want to show her and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.
“To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder you have a voice and to keep on fighting for justice. I know this has impacted my life, my daughter’s, my family and friends’ tremendously and is something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
“But now that justice has been served I can now try and move on and look forward to the future with my family, friends and daughter.”
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PA)
McGregor, 36, left court without saying a word. He had shook his head after the jury read out that Ms Hand had won her case against him, following deliberations that took six hours and 10 minutes.
McGregor was accompanied by his family, including his partner Dee Devlin, parents, sister and brother-in-law. He sat in the back row of the court, between his partner and mother, Margaret.
Ms Hand, 35, cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters.
Ms Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, lost her case against another man, James Lawrence, who she accused of assaulting her by allegedly having sex without her consent at the same hotel.