Conor McGregor found liable for sexual assault in civil case

Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been found liable of sexual assault by an Irish court.
A 12-person jury ruled the 36-year-old fighter and another man forced sex on Nikita Ni Laimhin after a 2018 Christmas party. McGregor has been ordered to pay the woman nearly $260,000.
Eight women and four men heard evidence over the past two weeks before beginning deliberations Thursday afternoon. They rendered a civil judgement Friday following six hours of deliberation.
McGregor’s accuser alleged the pugilist “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel. Her lawyer called McGregor “a devious coward,” telling jurors during closing arguments to “treat him for what he is.”
McGregor’s defense acknowledged that jurors may “loathe” the outspoken brawler, but asked them to put those feelings aside when rendering their verdict.
“I’m not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch,” his lawyer said.
The defendant claimed his encounter with the woman, who goes by Nikita Hand, was indeed vigorous, but consensual. He shook his head as the ruling against him was announced.
The plaintiff trembled outside the courthouse as she read a statement saying she could now get on with her life. She thanked her partner and her family, including her daughter — whom she feared she’d never see again — for their support.
Irish Central reported jurors heard audio of McGregor’s accuser telling her boyfriend she was afraid to name her attacker because “he told me he’d kill me.”
Jurors also heard her claim McGregor threatened to kill her during the assault, during which she said she was placed in a chokehold until she couldn’t breathe.
“It is a full-blown lie among many lies,” McGregor said of that allegation.
The 35-year-old hairdresser reportedly said she showed her boyfriend her bruised fists to prove she tried fighting off her attackers.
A paramedic who examined the woman the day after the party testified that she’d never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising.
Laimhin claimed to have stopped by the party for “coke and drink” with a group of mutual friends before things turned ugly.
The defense played surveillance video in court that they said showed McGregor and his accuser later leaving the hotel looking “happy.” She appeared to kiss McGregor’s arm and give him a hug.
Laimhin told jurors she only behaved that way because she “wanted to reassure him” that she wouldn’t tell anyone about the assault out of fear he would hurt her again.
She said the trauma of the attack left her unable to work, causing her to fall behind on her mortgage and move out of her house.
A jury ruled against Laimhin in a separate case brought against McGregor’s alleged accomplice, identified as James Lawrence.
With News Wire Services