Disturbing details surrounding a sexual assault accusation against former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor have recently emerged in court.
On Tuesday, “The Notorious” appeared before the Irish High Court in Dublin, where Justice Alexander Owens briefed the jury on the alleged 2018 sexual assault case involving the UFC superstar and another man, James Lawrence.
As reported by the Irish Mirror, Dublin-based hairdresser Nikita Ni Laimhin accused McGregor and Lawrence of sexually assaulting her on Dec. 9, 2018. The judge noted that the allegations claim the pair had “in effect, raped her” after offering her a ride home from a Christmas party.
John Gordon SC, representing Ní Laimhin, told the court that the complainant and the former UFC champion were acquainted, as they had interacted multiple times on social media. The court heard that McGregor reportedly brought a bag of cocaine, which he allegedly shared with Ní Laimhin and her friend.
The group, including Ní Laimhin, McGregor, his security team, and others, proceeded to a penthouse suite at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin, where they were reportedly drinking. At one point, McGregor is said to have moved into a bedroom and gestured for Ní Laimhin to follow. She allegedly expressed that she did not want to engage in sexual activity as she was on her period.
The UFC fighter is accused of then pinning her down on the bed, with the alleged victim physically unable to resist him. However, the Irishman’s legal team contend that the accuser is attempting to extort him through her version of events.
A thread of live updates provided on X by the Irish Mirror’s Paul Healy revealed the nature of the accusations, detailing some of the injuries McGregor is accused of inflicting on the woman.
The current case can’t result in a criminal prosecution for McGregor, with the judge reminding the jury on Tuesday that the alleged victim is seeking damages through civil action.
McGregor has not stepped into the Octagon since suffering a leg fracture during his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. The former two-division UFC champion was set to make his much-anticipated return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 this past June. However, he was compelled to withdraw after sustaining an injury just weeks before the fight.