McGregor told to ‘restrain’ comments from stand amid claims rape accuser ‘full of lies’ & ‘didn’t get bruises’ from him

CONOR McGregor has been told by a High Court judge to “restrain” his comments from the stand.

It came after he alleged that a woman suing him for damages over an alleged rape performed oral sex on his co-defendant in the back of a taxi.

McGregor today took the stand in his own defence on the afternoon of the sixth day of his civil trial.

The mixed martial arts fighter told the jury that he had consensual sex with the plaintiff Nikita Hand, which he described as “enthusiastic, athletic and vigorous” and carried out in a “multitude” of positions.

And he claimed that Ms Hand’s testimony was “full of lies”.

Ms Hand alleges that McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse in 2018.

The plaintiff, a hair colourist, is seeking damages from McGregor and James Lawrence, of Rafter’s Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, arising from the events of December 9, 2018 at the penthouse suite of the Beacon Hotel in Dublin.

Mr Lawrence claims that he twice had consensual sex with Ms Hand after McGregor left the hotel.

Ms Hand said that Mr Lawrence’s claim of consensual sex is “lies”. Both men deny the allegations.

Today, Mr McGregor told his barrister, Remy Farrell SC, that he was contacted on Instagram by Ms Hand on the morning of December 9, 2018 to collect her and a colleague from the salon where they worked in Goatstown on Dublin’s southside.

The court heard the two women got into a car driven by one of Mr McGregor’s security staff, with the group driving around Dublin for about two hours.

Mr McGregor said Ms Hand was being “bombastic and energetic” in the car. Mr Lawrence “somewhat reluctantly came on board” and all four went to the Beacon Hotel, where McGregor had previously booked a room.

‘IT PROGRESSED VERY QUICKLY’

Mr McGregor said the group drank at the hotel, where he said Ms Hand “bundled” herself into the bathtub “with a thud”, pretending to swim while being “fully clothed and in high heels”.

The defendant said that over vodka, Bacardi and beers the four were listening to music and talking when he went to the bathroom after getting “a bit more closer” with Ms Hand. Mr McGregor said Ms Hand followed him into the bedroom, that he had his zip open and that they began kissing “more passionately and it took off from there”.

“It progressed very quickly. We had fully consensual intercourse,” he said. Mr McGregor described the “consensual” sex as “enthusiastic, prolonged, athletic and vigorous” done in a “multitude” of positions.

Ms Hand gave evidence alleging Mr McGregor raped her in the room while she was on her period and using a tampon.

‘STAY, KEEP GOING’

“There was no tampon,” said Mr McGregor, “not from what I could see or feel”.

Mr McGregor said he and the plaintiff fell asleep and had sex again after he woke.

The defendant left the hotel at around 6pm with the plaintiff’s friend, to whom he gave a lift home, telling the court Ms Hand was telling him and the others to “stay, keep going”.

When Mr Farrell asked if Mr McGregor noticed any bruising on Ms Hand, he said “none whatsoever”.

JUDGE’S WARNING

During cross-examination, Mr McGregor told John Gordon SC, for Ms Hand, she had performed oral sex on his co-defendant “in the back of the taxi… it was crazy”.

After this allegation from Mr McGregor, which was said in a raised voice, presiding judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens warned the defendant to “restrain” his comments when giving evidence.

Mr Gordon put it to Mr McGregor that Ms Hand had been put in an arm lock by him, which he denied, adding: “Your client is full of lies. Everything is a lie. Full of lies.”

Mr Gordon said his client had claimed Mr McGregor was choking her and pressing down on her in the hotel bedroom and that he told her “now you know how I felt in the Octagon” when he tapped out three times.

‘FULL-BLOWN LIE’

Mr McGregor said he would not have said such a thing and this was a “full-blown lie, an absolute lie and almost a fantasy”, adding: “It’s a full-blown lie, among many lies being told by her.”

Mr Gordon told Mr McGregor that a doctor at a sexual assault treatment unit found bruising on Ms Hand’s legs, back, hands, chest and neck.

Mr McGregor replied that the first medical examiner said the marks on the neck “could have been love bites”.

He added: “I’ll tell you where she didn’t get them — from me. She went into the bathtub in full heels and was out for three days.

‘IT WASN’T ROUGH’

“There was no scrape on me or her, it wasn’t rough in any way.

“If she was on her cycle I would not have proceeded with having sex,” adding that he was “shocked” by photos of Ms Hand’s injuries.

Mr McGregor will continue giving evidence today.

Earlier, Danielle Kealey, who was with Ms Hand in the hotel room, told the court she was “surprised” to learn of the alleged sexual assault and that she was contacted by Ms Hand in the days after the alleged incident, claiming she had been raped.

Ms Kealey told the court: “I was surprised as I didn’t see anything.”