Conor McGregor back in court alongside partner Dee Devlin as jury resume day two of deliberations in ‘rape’ civil action

CONOR McGregor’s partner Dee Devlin is sitting alongside the MMA fighter in court this morning as a jury resume deliberations in his rape case.

McGregor’s father Tony, mother Margaret and sister Aoife are also at the High Court awaiting the verdict.

Mr Justice Alex Owens yesterday completed his two-day charge to the jury of eight women and four men.

The panel continued their deliberations this morning after sitting through eight days of evidence.

Nikita Hand, 35, has accused mixed martial arts fighter McGregor of a brutal rape after a Christmas night out.

The former hair colourist is seeking civil damages against the 36-year-old sports star over the alleged rape at a Dublin hotel penthouse in December 2018.

McGregor, who took the stand to claim he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, denies all allegations, as does co-defendant James Lawrence.

The jury in the High Court trial was sent out for deliberation at 3pm on Thursday following final remarks from the judge.

Mr Justice Owens told jurors that the onus of proof is on the plaintiff – and the standard of proof is on balance of probabilities.

The judge urged the jury: “Look at all the evidence.”

Judge Owens told jurors if they find that McGregor assaulted Ms Hand, they will have the option of awarding aggravated and punitive damages, as well as a general award of compensation.

After deliberating for around one hour on Thursday, the jury were sent home for the night at 4pm.

The judge had cautioned the jury not to discuss their deliberations with anyone last night, including any loved ones who must be “madly interested in all of this”.

The jury resumed their deliberations just after 10am today.

The jury of eight women and four men has been given an issue paper, with a number of questions.

JURY QUESTIONS

Question one asks: “Did Conor McGregor assault Nikita Hand?”

The judge said they answer no to this question, then that is the end of the case against Mr McGregor.

But if they answer yes, they will then go on to consider damages.

Ms Hand has sued both Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence, alleging the pair “brutally raped and battered” her in a hotel penthouse six years ago.

The mum-of-one, from Drimnagh in Dublin, has claimed they both raped her in the Beacon Hotel, Dublin, on December 9, 2018, during a cocaine and alcohol-fuelled afterparty.

Both have denied her allegation, and claimed the sex was consensual.

Before the jury were sent out to begin considering its decision, Justice Owens yesterday finished summarising Mr McGregor’s evidence.

Mr McGregor described Ms Hand’s allegation that he raped her as “lies”.

He added: “She performed oral sex on me. We began to take our clothes off. We were both naked in the bedroom and we moved to the bed.

“We began engaging in fully consensual sex. It began in the missionary position.”

McGregor told the court the sex was “enthusiastic and athletic”.

The cage fighter was shown photos of bruises on the complainant’s body taken in the days after the alleged assault.

CROSS-EXAMINATION

Under cross-examination by Ms Hand’s barrister John Gordon, Mr McGregor denied causing the bruises, saying they “possibly came from her diving into the bath”.

But Mr Gordon drew the jury’s attention to the medical evidence about the severity of Ms Hand’s bruises.

And Ms Hand’s barrister highlighted how a tampon had to be removed from her using forceps in hospital when she attended after the alleged rape.

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

The jury heard evidence that a tampon worn by the plaintiff on the night had to be removed by a doctor using forceps.

Mr Gordon said it was “obvious” that, as the case approached, Mr McGregor “thought the tampon was going to be a problem” and this was why, in evidence, he claimed that there had been no tampon present in Ms Hand.

Mr Gordon said that Mr McGregor’s and Mr Lawrence’s claim that there was no tampon was never put to Ms Hand in court because Mr McGregor did not say this to his legal team.

Mr Gordon said: “It was a whole new version of events. Rather him repeating that my client is a liar, the liar here is Mr McGregor who doesn’t have the courage or the decency to own up to what he did.

“He’s not a man, he’s a devious coward and you should treat him for what he is.”

And referring to bruising on Ms Hand’s body, Mr Gordon said: “Let’s put it this way: somebody did it. It happened in the Beacon Hotel. It was Mr McGregor.”