The mother of the woman who won a civil assault case against Conor McGregor launched legal action against the UFC fighter and his co-defendant on the same day her daughter’s case was filed, it has emerged.
Nikita Hand, 35, launched civil proceedings against McGregor, claiming he ‘brutally raped and assaulted’ her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
On Friday she was awarded €250,000 after a civil court jury found McGregor had sexually assaulted her.
Ms Hand lost a second separate lawsuit against McGregor’s boyfriend, James Lawrence, who she also accused of assaulting her on the same night out.
It has now been reported that her mother, Deborah Ní Laimhin, filed a civil case against McGregor and Lawrence on January 18, 2021 – the same day her daughter filed proceedings against the two men almost four years ago.
But the case has not progressed, Sunday World reports, and it is unclear whether Ms Ní Laimhin’s civil suit will proceed as no court date has been scheduled.
The nature of the civil complaint is unclear and Ms Ní Laimhin’s lawyers have reportedly declined to comment on the case.
The court heard evidence that Ms Hand went to her mother’s house on the morning of December 10 to seek help after the tampon she was wearing became stuck inside her during the attack by McGregor.
Nikita Hand (centre), also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, leaves the High Court in Dublin following the personal injury case against Conor McGregor
Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court in Dublin following the personal injury case against him
When Ms Ní Laimhin saw her daughter, she called both gardai and paramedics, and Ms Hand was taken in an ambulance, accompanied by her mother, to the Rotunda Hospital, the court was told.
Eithne Scully, an advanced paramedic with Dublin Fire Brigade with more than 16 years’ experience, told the court: ‘I have never seen anyone so bruised in all my time.’
Daniel Kane, the gynecologist who examined her at the Sexual Assault Unit, told the court that her tampon was stuck at the very top of her cervix and had to be removed with forceps.
He added that Ms Hand suffered extensive bruising to her body, to a moderate to severe degree that only occurs in 10 per cent of his patients.
Dr. Ann Leader, a psychiatrist who told the court she had seen more than 5,000 cases of alleged sexual abuse, said Ms Hand showed classic symptoms of someone who had been traumatized and suffering from PTSD, including suicidal feelings, after the attack. panic attacks, flashbacks, depression and anxiety.
Ms Hand eventually made a lengthy statement to gardai in January 2019.
Speak with The Sunday times after the verdict was handed down on Friday, Ms Ní Laimhin said her daughter would be left “scarred” by her ordeal.
“It will always be there, it will always be with her,” she said. “But we’ll try to move on as best we can.”
Deborah Ní Laimhin said her daughter would remain “scarred” by her ordeal
She added that the verdict was “still sinking in” but that she was relieved and had “got the outcome she deserved.”
In an emotional statement outside court on Friday, Ms Hand thanked her mother and said she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the support she had received.
‘I would like to thank my mother and all my family and friends. Finally, I would like to thank my daughter Freya, for whom I am most grateful.
She has given me so much strength and courage through this nightmare over the past six years to continue pursuing justice.”
Ms Hand lost a second separate lawsuit against McGregor’s boyfriend, James Lawrence, who she also accused of assaulting her on the same night out
She added that she hoped her case would encourage other victims to “persevere” for justice.
“I hope my story reminds us that no matter how scared you are, speak up, have a voice and keep fighting for justice,” she said.
‘I know this has greatly affected not only my life, my daughter’s life, my family and friends.
‘It’s something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.
“Now that justice has been served, I can now try to move on and look forward to the future with my family, friends and daughter.”
In an emotional statement outside court on Friday, Ms Hand thanked her mother and said she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the support she had received
McGregor has promised on social media that he will appeal the decision. He claims not all the evidence has been reviewed and says he is ‘disappointed’ with the decision.
In a now-deleted message, McGregor said: “I am appealing yesterday’s decision. The judge’s instruction and the modest award awarded were for assault, not for serious or exemplary damages.
‘I am now with my family, focused on my future. Thank you for all my support worldwide.”