Horrific details emerge from break-in of Conor McGregor’s rape accuser as it is revealed masked men broke into her home, smashed the windows and stabbed her boyfriend while daughter was asleep next door

Conor McGregor’s rape accuser Nikita Hand was forced to move after a break-in by a group of men in balaclavas believed to be supporters of the UFC fighter, the High Court heard.

McGregor, 36, faced an allegation that he brutally raped and assaulted Nikita Hand, 35, in a south Dublin hotel in December 2018.

After deliberating for six hours and ten minutes, the jury returned this afternoon with their verdict in the trial, awarding Ms Hand almost €250,000.

The story emerged at the start of the trial, in the context of a claim she wanted to make for the costs of a move from Drimnagh in Dublin.

With no jury present, her defense counsel, John Gordon, told Judge Alexander Owens that the incident had occurred on June 14 this year.

“The complainant’s house was invaded by a group of men wearing balaclavas,” he said.

“They broke into the plaintiff’s bedroom and were driven out by the plaintiff’s partner, who suffered a stab wound. Her daughter was sleeping in the next room.’

He said the men left with broken windows in the front room.

Nikita Hand speaks to the media outside court after hearing the verdict in her civil case. In the photo: with friend, right

McGregor, pictured with his partner Dee Devlin at the High Court in Dublin this evening, was accused of ‘brutally raping and assaulting’ Nikita Hand.

“We’re not laying that at the feet of the defendants or saying they had anything to do with that,” he continued.

“We do maintain that it was not an untargeted attack, [it] arose from supporters of the first named defendant [Mr McGregor].

‘It relates to the claim that she had to move from the Drimnagh area.’

Judge Owens asked: ‘You are not alleging or going to provide evidence that Mr McGregor had anything to do with it?’

“No, Judge, it is a special damages item,” Mr. Gordon replied.

‘It has to do with her state of fear and her claim that she had to move from the Drimnagh area as she has now done.’

The court heard she had claimed moving costs of €750,000.

Conor McGregor’s lawyer, Remy Farrell, said it appeared Ms Hand was making a claim ‘that has nothing to do with us’.

Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against him for damages

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin leave the Supreme Court

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, November 22, 2024

“It is extraordinary that there is an attempt to sneak something like this into the case … to increase the special damages,” he said.

He complained that it would be “an invitation to the jury to speculate.”

Judge Owens ruled: ‘I consider this to be completely irrelevant and it should not be referred to.’

The case heard evidence from a property expert who said similarly sized three-bedroom houses to Mrs Hand’s home in Drimnagh could cost €200,000 more in neighboring areas in Dublin such as Cabinteely.

Her GP also mentioned her ‘anxiety’ about life in Drimnagh, telling the court she had recently moved further away from her pediatric practice.

However, at the end of the case, her counsel and Judge Owens agreed that no claim would be made for the move.

The home invasion was confirmed by the Garda press office at the time, but no link was made to McGregor.

A Garda spokeswoman said: ‘Gardaí received a report at approximately 2.20am this morning, Friday 14 June, of an incident of serious burglary which occurred at a property in Drimnagh, Dublin 12.

Ms Hand joined family and supporters in saying she felt vindicated by the outcome

Ms Hand was awarded €248,603.60 after the jury decided McGregor was liable

‘One man in his 30s has been taken to St James’s Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries sustained as a result of this incident.’

McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assaulting Ms Hand.

The MMA fighter previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, at the Beacon Hotel. He denied causing any bruises to the complainant.

McGregor has since vowed to appeal the decision, saying he was ‘disappointed’ and ‘focused on my future’.

Ms Hand cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters as the verdict was handed down. Outside court she described the past two weeks as a “nightmare” but said she felt vindicated.

She separately lost her case against McGregor’s boyfriend, James Lawrence, who she also accused of assaulting her at the Dublin hotel.

While in the jury room today, the jury was given an issue paper to record their decisions. Two questions were asked on which they could make a judgment.

The first was, “Did Mr. McGregor assault Ms. Hand?”

The second was ‘did Mr Lawrence assault Ms Hand?’.

They had to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’. An answer of “yes” to either led the jury to decide what damages to award Ms. Hand.

The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euros (£206,621.91).