The jury has begun deliberating in the civil case brought against mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, who is accused of raping a woman in a Dublin hotel six years ago. Nikita Hand, 35, is suing McGregor and his friend James Lawrence for damages, alleging that they raped her at the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford on December 9, 2018.
Both McGregor and Lawrence deny the allegations, claiming the sexual encounters were consensual.
The jury, consisting of eight women and four men, has been provided with an issue paper outlining several questions that must be answered before a decision can be reached. The first question asks whether McGregor assaulted Hand. If the jury answers no, the case against him will be dismissed. If they answer yes, they will proceed to assess damages, including general, special, and potentially aggravated and punitive damages.
The second question on the issue paper concerns James Lawrence and asks whether he assaulted Hand. Similar to McGregor’s case, if the jury answers no, the case against Lawrence will end, while a yes response would require the jury to consider damages in his case.
During the trial’s summing up, Mr. Justice Alexander Owens advised the jury that they should assess each defendant’s actions separately. He emphasized that a yes or no answer for one man should not influence their decision regarding the other.
The judge provided further guidance on the types of damages that could be awarded. He explained that general damages are intended to compensate the plaintiff for pain and suffering, while aggravated damages may be awarded for particularly egregious behavior, such as violence or a refusal to apologize. Punitive damages, the judge noted, are reserved for “outrageous conduct” that warrants a public punishment of the defendant.
Justice Owens reminded the jury that the onus of proof lies with the plaintiff and that the standard of proof is on the balance of probabilities. He urged them to consider all the evidence carefully before making their decision.
Jurors have been instructed to avoid “double counting” issues when awarding damages, ensuring that general and aggravated damages are assessed appropriately. The jury’s deliberations were paused for the day after a juror informed the judge they would need to leave at 4 p.m. Deliberations will resume the following morning.
The case has drawn significant attention due to McGregor’s high profile, with both defendants awaiting the jury’s decision on the serious allegations.
