• Conor McGregor lost his appeal against a civil verdict finding him liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand.
• The Court of Appeal upheld the jury's decision and ordered McGregor to pay nearly €250,000 and significant legal costs.
• Nikita Hand described the appeal process as "retraumatizing," emphasizing the importance of survivors being heard.

Conor McGregor has faced a legal defeat as the Court of Appeal in Dublin rejected his appeal against a jury's decision, ordering him to compensate Nikita Hand for sexual assault allegations made against him from a December 2018 incident. The appeal was dismissed on all five grounds presented by McGregor, reaffirming the original jury's finding of liability, which mandated McGregor to pay €248,603.60 (approximately $285,250) in damages, along with around €1.3 million in legal costs, as confirmed by The Independent and India Times.

The court proceedings included serious allegations that McGregor had "brutally raped and battered" Hand at the Beacon Hotel. Despite his claims of consensual sex, the jury found in favor of Hand's account. According to Reuters and BBC, Judge Brian O'Moore stated that the specifics of the jury instructions accurately conveyed the allegations during the trial.

During the appeal, McGregor's legal team challenged the terminology used in jury instructions, arguing that the language should have specified "sexual assault" rather than just "assault." The court found no merit in this claim, maintaining that jurors were not misled. Additionally, McGregor's contention that his "no comment" responses during police interviews should not have been presented to the jury was dismissed as well, according to The Independent and NPR.

Following the court ruling, Hand expressed her emotional turmoil from the lengthy legal battle, stating, "This appeal has retraumatized me over and over... You deserve to be heard; you also deserve justice." Her sentiments have been documented by sources including Reuters and India Times.

McGregor's legal troubles are ongoing, as he now faces new lawsuits, including allegations of sexual assault in Florida. As noted by BBC, he remains a controversial figure, with his social and political stances intensifying public scrutiny.