LONDON: A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland.
Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger.
The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin.
He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the “modest award.”
Hand’s voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter.
“She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice,” she said. “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.”
The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial.
Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client.
“He’s not a man, he’s a coward,” attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. “A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is.”
Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area.
She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel.
Hand said she told McGregor she didn’t want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him “no” as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn’t move.
McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, “now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times,” referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said.
Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again.
Eventually, he let go of her.
“I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn’t tell anyone so he wouldn’t hurt me again,” she testified.
She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her.
A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries.
Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house.
Police investigated the woman’s complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely.
McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn’t see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed.
He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said “she never said ‘no’ or stopped” and testified that everything she said was a lie.
“It is a full blown lie among many lies,” he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. “How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings.”
McGregor’s lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter.
“You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise,” attorney Remy Farrell said. “I’m not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch.”
The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor’s arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked “happy, happy, happy.”
McGregor said he was “beyond petrified” when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions.
The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor’s friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent.
Conor McGregor must pay 250,000 euros to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules
https://arab.news/5h65n
Conor McGregor must pay 250,000 euros to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules
- Nikita Hand said the 2018 assault left her heavily bruised and suffering post-traumatic stress disorder
- McGregor later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict
Al-Hilal’s Jorge Jesus plays down foreign player advantage ahead of AFC Champions League semifinal against Al-Ahli
- Jesus, who has won five titles during his time at the Riyadh giants, said that both teams are familiar with each other’s strengths and the scale of the occasion
JEDDAH: Al-Hilal manager Jorge Jesus says that Al-Ahli’s larger contingent of foreign players will not be a decisive factor when the two sides meet in the AFC Elite Champions League semifinal in Jeddah on Tuesday.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference at Al-Inmaa Stadium, Jesus said: “Each team makes its own choices. Al-Ahli may have more foreign players, but having one more or one less doesn’t tip the balance.”
Jesus, who has won five titles during his time at the Riyadh giants, said that both teams are familiar with each other’s strengths and the scale of the occasion.
“We are aware of the size and intensity of this match. It’s a big continental game between two great clubs,” he said.
The Portuguese coach also praised the growing strength of Saudi Arabian football, pointing to the fact that three Saudi clubs have reached the semifinal stage.
“Having three Saudi teams in the semifinals proves the strength of Saudi football and the competitiveness of its clubs,” Jesus said.
On the other side, Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle described the showdown as a “summit between two major teams” and said his players were relishing the challenge.
“It will be a tough game, and we are preparing ourselves well. Playing at home and with our fans gives us a real opportunity,” Jaissle said.
While acknowledging that Al-Hilal benefited from an extra day of rest in the run-up to the match, Jaissle was confident in Al-Ahli’s squad depth.
“We have 12 foreign players, but I don’t separate them from the Saudis. We have a strong group overall, and what matters is the performance,” he said.
Reflecting on Al-Ahli’s run to the last four, Jaissle added: “Our previous results in Asia show that we can reach the final. We trust ourselves.”
Five things to look out for at the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals in Jeddah
- Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli face off in an all-Saudi clash on Tuesday, while Al-Nassr take on Kawasaki Frontale of Japan the following day
LONDON: Three Saudi Arabian teams entered the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite in Jeddah, and all three progressed to the last four. On Tuesday, Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal meet in the first semi-final while, 24 hours later, Al-Nassr take on Kawasaki Frontale of Japan. Here are five things to look out for as the continent’s premier club competition reaches its climax.
Al-Dawsari the main man for Al-Hilal
The headlines wrote themselves after Al-Hilal thrashed Gwangju FC 7-0 on Friday. A team that had looked uncharacteristically shaky on the home front was suddenly back to doing its favorite thing, winning big in big Asian games.
Coach Jorge Jesus would have been delighted with the fact that all seven goals against the South Koreans were scored by different players. Perhaps the best was Salem Al-Dawsari’s effort as he moved to nine goals for the tournament so far. That is an incredible effort for a player who is not a striker and is surrounded by players who love nothing more than to get on the scoresheet.
So for all the famous foreign talent, it is a very familiar face that Al-Ahli will have to be wary of on Tuesday. Al-Dawsari is in some of the best form of an exceptional career. He will take some stopping and, on Friday’s evidence, so will Al-Hilal.
Recent Ahli win means nothing but Firmino on fire
“Bring on Al-Hilal” chanted the Al-Ahli fans as their team defeated Buriram United 3-0 on Saturday.
Understandably so. It was just a few weeks ago that Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick to give the Greens a famous 3-2 win over the Blues in Riyadh. That will give the Jeddah giants confidence but will not actually mean that much when the two teams take the pitch in Jeddah. Beating Al-Hilal once a season is not easy, twice is special.
Yet Al-Hilal will know that they lost to a team without Roberto Firmino because the former Liverpool star is not registered for the Saudi Pro League. The Brazilian took out the frustration of prolonged inactivity on Buriram on Saturday with a top-class display of attacking vision, creativity and no small goal threat.
It has been a mixed season for “Bobby” but if he can down Al-Hilal and take Al-Ahli to a third final and a first title then his status as club legend will be assured.
Al-Nassr look to Ronaldo to make it an all-Saudi final
Al-Nassr made short work of Yokohama F. Marinos, winning 4-1 against the Japanese team. The only downside was the late goal conceded.
To be honest, Stefano Pioli’s men were not tested too much and swept aside the visitors in waves of attacks in the first half. Jhon Duran scored twice and his cutting edge will be needed in the next game. Yokohama are bottom of the J. League and were poor defensively. Kawasaki Frontale will not be quite as generous.
The pressure is on the Yellows. They have never been Asian champions. If they lose here then the season is almost over given that they are eight points behind an Al-Ittihad team that is resting and recovering while its title rivals are playing in Asia.
The likes of Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte have won big prizes but none more so than Cristiano Ronaldo. His experience and leadership will be crucial. Losing at the semi-final stage is always painful but will be especially so with the knowledge that there is a Saudi Arabian rival waiting.
Kawasaki ready to learn from other easterners
The Japanese team have underachieved in Asia in their past 10 appearances but eventually made it to the semi-finals for the first time on Sunday with a 3-2 win over Al-Sadd. After three disappointing results from East Asian teams in the previous two days, it is good for the competition that there is a representative from the other side of the continent.
Kawasaki are up against it. Al-Nassr have had an extra day’s rest and the Japanese team had to go into extra-time. Al-Nassr have the home support too. Yet all that means there is little pressure on the four-time J. League champions.
In the other three quarterfinals, all the Saudi Arabian teams scored early and the games were soon over. Kawasaki will be determined not to make the same mistakes. If they can keep it tight then the tension and frustration may grow.
It is not the first all-Saudi Champions League semi-final
This is the first time in the tournament’s history that three teams from one country are in the last four. The Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli semi-final is not, however, the first time that Saudi Arabian teams have met at this stage.
In 2012 there was the Jeddah derby. Al-Ittihad defeated their local rivals Al-Ahli 1-0 thanks to Naif Hazazi. The second leg was at the same Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium. Al-Ittihad were ready to get to another final but ended up losing 2-0. Moataz Al-Mousa scored just before the break and then, as extra-time loomed, Victor Simoes won it for the Greens who then lost 3-0 to Ulsan of South Korea in the final.
In 2021, it was time for the Riyadh derby, a one-legged affair. Moussa Marega put Al-Hilal ahead in the first half. Soon after the restart, Talisca equalized for Al-Nassr and then, with 20 minutes remaining, Salem Al-Dawsari struck to score one of the most famous goals of his career to send the Blues to the final where they went on to win a fourth crown.
He will be looking to do something similar on Tuesday.
‘No-foul call’ controversy as Knicks escape Pistons’ last-second shot for 3–1 lead
- While the Knicks push through to the playoffs, fans in Abu Dhabi have reason to get excited with 2 pre-season games against the 76ers this October
DUBAI: For the second straight game, the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons went down to the wire. The Knicks had secured a 118–116 win in Game 3, and Game 4 was just as dramatic on Sunday.
With the Pistons down by one point, the ball was batted around in the final seconds and ended up in Tim Hardaway Jr.’s hands. He shot a three-pointer just before the buzzer and drew some contact from New York’s Josh Hart that was not called a foul.
Had the shot gone in, or had a foul been called, it could have won the game for Detroit, but instead, the Knicks sealed a 3–1 series lead.
NBA referee David Guthrie commented to a pool reporter after the game: “During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play.
“After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr. and a foul should have been called.”
The Knicks and Pistons have delivered a highly competitive and nail-biting series so far.
As former New York Knicks player Joakim Noah described it: “They’re in for a real fight against the Detroit Pistons.”
Speaking in Abu Dhabi at the BRED Festival on Thursday, Noah predicted a tense first-round series. “The playoffs are the pinnacle of our sport, and the intensity is very high.
“The Knicks are a good team, they’re very well-coached. But the playoffs are about matchups,” he said
Describing the Pistons, Noah said: “This is a young team that lost a lot last year, and when you lose that much, it brings a different kind of pain. The Pistons carried that pain this year, and they’ve had a great season.
“Now they get to play on the big stage. I think the New York Knicks are a very good team, but they’re up against a real battle right now against the Pistons.”
The No. 3-seed Knicks and No. 6-seed Pistons will face off again in Game 5 of their first-round playoffs series, with the former returning home and looking to advance to the second round on April 29.
Meanwhile, fans in Abu Dhabi have reason to be excited.
Later this year, the Knicks will face the Philadelphia 76ers in The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ, organized in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
The two iconic teams will be in action across two preseason games, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 4, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
While the preseason games in Abu Dhabi are not a part of the official NBA season, they remain highly competitive and thrilling for fans.
As Noah described it, even in pre-season, seeing great talents like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) live, rather than just on TV or social media, is powerful and inspiring.
Reflecting on his own experience, Noah, who began his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls before joining the Knicks, said: “I remember for me personally, I saw Michael Jordan play in Paris in ’97 when I was 10 years old.
“And I felt so blessed to be able to be in that gym, and that moment to me, it changed my life. I wanted to play for the Chicago Bulls since I was 9 years old, and I got to see Michael Jordan play with the Chicago Bulls, and I was like, OK, this is it. This is what I want to do.”
Japan, Malaysia off to flying start at Sudirman Cup
- Malaysia, who are also chasing a first Sudirman Cup title, opened with a victory for their men’s doubles pair before Goh Jin Wei and Leong Jun Hao won their respective singles matches to take the tie
XIAMEN: Japan got off to a flying start in their bid for a first Sudirman Cup title by thrashing Australia 5-0, while Group C rivals Malaysia thumped France by the same score at the biennial mixed team competition on Monday.
Japan got on the board through mixed doubles pair Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito before teenager Tomoka Miyazaki won her singles match 21-12 21-9 against Tiffany Ho. Kodai Naraoka sealed the tie with his men’s singles win over Jack Yu.
Japan finished runners-up in 2015, 2019 and 2021.
Malaysia, who are also chasing a first Sudirman Cup title, opened with a victory for their men’s doubles pair before Goh Jin Wei and Leong Jun Hao won their respective singles matches to take the tie.
In Group B, South Korea lost their men’s singles match when Jeon Hyeok-jin went down 21-10 23-21 to Canada’s Victor Lai, but the four-times champions got back on level terms through Paris Olympic women’s champion An Se-young before winning the remaining three matches.
The South Koreans are in a strong position to finish inside the top two and qualify for the quarter-finals of the April 27-May 4 tournament as they now top the group with two points, having beaten Czech Republic 4-1 on Sunday.
In the evening session, defending champions China will resume their quest for a record-extending 14th title against Hong Kong while Taiwan will face Czech Republic and Thailand will take on Algeria.
Kohli highlights importance of partnerships after Bengaluru top IPL table
- Kohli made a steady 51 while Krunal Pandya sparkled with an unbeaten 73 from 47 balls as Bengaluru beat Delhi Capitals with six wickets and nine balls remaining on Sunday
BENGALURU: Twenty20 cricket is fast becoming a stage for explosive batsmen but Virat Kohli reminded fans of the value of building solid partnerships and rotating strike after taking Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the Indian Premier League summit.
Kohli made a steady 51 while Krunal Pandya sparkled with an unbeaten 73 from 47 balls as Bengaluru beat Delhi Capitals with six wickets and nine balls remaining on Sunday.
The duo put on 119 runs for the fourth wicket and Kohli said it had given his team the perfect platform to seal their seventh victory of the campaign.
“People, I think, are forgetting the importance of stitching partnerships or going deep into the innings in T20 cricket,” the former India captain said after helping his side chase down 163 on a two-paced surface.
“I think this year, you’re seeing that you can’t just come out and tee off from ball one. You need to have professionalism, to read the situation and try and get into a position where you can start dominating the bowlers.
“For that, you need to string a partnership. It won’t come easy on a slow pitch if you don’t know how to rotate the strike. So that’s pretty much my method.”
Kohli’s half-century was his sixth of the season and fourth while chasing, taking his run tally this season to 443.
“Whenever there’s a chase on or there’s a situation I go in, I keep checking with the dugout whether we’re on course, what is my role, what is the kind of innings I need to play,” he added.
Bengaluru will host five-times champions Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.
