How Conor McGregor gasped, held his mother’s hand and repeated ‘easy, easy’ as he was calmed by partner Dee Devlin before jury ruled he sexually assaulted woman

Conor McGregor gasped and held his mother’s hand as a jury of eight women and four men prepared to deliver their verdict in his rape case on Friday.

The MMA fighter paused and repeated “easy, easy” to himself as the jury returned from six hours and 10 minutes of deliberation to find him liable for assault.

As the High Court in Dublin fell silent, McGregor’s heavy breathing could be heard in the moments before the verdict as his mother held his hand.

His partner, Dee Devlin, stroked his arm for support to calm him down as the jury pieced together two weeks of hearings into their final verdict.

Nikita Hand had alleged McGregor sexually assaulted her on December 9, 2018, and that another man, James Lawrence, did the same, the court heard.

McGregor shook his head and buried it in his hands as the jury found McGregor liable and awarded Hand almost €250,000.

Hand separately lost her lawsuit against McGregor’s boyfriend, James Lawrence.

Outside court on Friday afternoon, she described the two weeks as a “nightmare” but said she felt right.

McGregor and his partner, Dee Devlin, outside the High Court in Dublin after Friday’s ruling

The jury found McGregor liable for assault and awarded Ms Hand almost 250,000 euros

Nikita Hand speaks to the media outside the High Court in Dublin after the verdict was handed down

Hand separately lost her lawsuit against McGregor’s boyfriend, James Lawrence (pictured Friday)

McGregor came to court on Friday with his partner Dee in a chauffeured Rolls-Royce.

They were joined by members of McGregor’s family and an entourage of support, including boxing coach Phil Sutcliffe.

McGregor dressed in a navy blue suit with a green tie and a white shirt, with a small handkerchief sticking out of the pocket of his blazer.

It was a long day for everyone involved. The jury left after 10 a.m. and delivered its verdict shortly before 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon.

Before sentencing, Judge Owens had reminded the jury of their responsibilities on Thursday.

He pointed to legal principles, including the standard of proof, which is the balance of probabilities in such a civil case.

He also reminded them of the different damages to consider, and told them to “use common sense” when making a decision.

The jury retired to the jury room to review an issue paper with two questions to pass judgment on.

The first asked point-blank, “Did Mr. McGregor assault Ms. Hand?”

The second followed: “Did Mr. Lawrence assault Mrs. Hand?”

A yes answer to both questions led them to decide what damages to award to Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin.

In the courtroom, Hand took a seat, followed by McGregor and his group.

His mother tried to calm him down when he started crying, and his father joined him.

Judge Owens returned and warned the room of any unrest.

The jury returned and Judge Owens asked if they had a verdict.

Hand has been comforted by the decision after two weeks of hearings in Dublin

Hand speaks to media outside the High Court in Dublin after the personal injury case

After six hours and ten minutes of deliberation, the jury returned with their verdict on Friday

Nikita Hand claimed she was raped by McGregor in a Dublin hotel in December 2018

Judge Owens told the jury to “keep their feet on the ground” before sentencing

McGregor watched as they said they did, and made their decision.

When the verdict was pronounced, he slumped over with his head in his hands.

They discovered that McGregor had assaulted Hand and awarded her €248,603.60 (£206,621.91).

Hand cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters as the jury left, after two weeks of intense deliberation over the events of December 9, 2018.

They had heard how McGregor and Lawrence had sexually assaulted Hand in a Dublin hotel room after a Christmas party.

Hand recalled how she contacted McGregor after a night out and followed up the next morning.

She said they drove to a party in a penthouse room at the Beacon Hotel and consumed alcohol and drugs together, picking up Lawrence along the way.

The accuser alleges that she was strangled and violently raped by McGregor sometime between 12:30 and 6:00 that day.

McGregor told the court he had consensual sex with Hand, but denied allegations he assaulted or caused her bruises.

Lawyer Remy Farrell FC argued that Hand had shown ‘selective amnesia and amnesia’ in recounting individual events.

He pointed to CCTV footage which he said showed Hand ‘happy, happy, happy’ after the incident.

And he said footage showed Hand doing a “victory dance” after sending a text to her boyfriend that didn’t say she was at the hotel.

“Then bang, as soon as she knows she has to go home and face the music – that’s when the accusations start,” he added.

He acknowledged that the jury might even “loathe” McGregor, but urged them to put aside “negative views” and consider only the evidence before handing down the verdict.

The court also heard from witnesses, including a paramedic who examined Hand and said she had not seen “someone so bruised” in a long time.

Advanced paramedic Eithne Scully said Nikita Hand was ‘very upset and distressed’ and ‘curled up’ when she spoke to her the day after.

The court heard Scully and another paramedic took Hand to the sexual assault unit at Rotunda Hospital.

She said Hand’s main concern was that a tampon had been “pushed way too far up” and that she was in pain.

She added that she could see a small cut on her chin and that there appeared to be some bruising on her lower neck.

During an examination, she noticed bruising around her chest, chest, down her legs, as well as around her buttocks and thighs.

The court also heard from Hand’s GP, Dr Frank Clarke, who said she had been diagnosed with PTSD.

He said he had been treating Hand since she was a child, and that she had a history of anxiety and struggled with her self-confidence – and had previously been given a low dose of medication to help her.

He said that after her PTSD diagnosis, she was given stronger medications, which he said helped her cope with the peaks of her emotional pain.

After reviewing two weeks of evidence examining the events of December 9, 2018, the jury ruled that McGregor had assaulted Hand.

Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court in Dublin after the verdict

McGregor remained silent as he left on Friday, but later said he would appeal in a now-deleted post

Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court in Dublin on Friday afternoon

Outside court, Hand described the two-week trial as a “nightmare” but said she felt right.

She said she hopes her case will remind victims of abuse to “continue to pursue justice,” and show her daughter Freya “that you can stand up for yourself when something happens to you, no matter who the person is and justice will be done’. served’.

She said: “I hope my story reminds you that no matter how scared you are, speak up, you have a voice and keep fighting for justice.

‘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.’

McGregor remained silent as he left the court with his partner.

McGregor broke his silence in a now-deleted message, saying: “I will appeal yesterday’s decision.

‘The judge’s instruction and the modest award awarded were for assault, not for serious or exemplary damage.

“I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all of the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you for all my support worldwide.”