Nikita Hand, a 35-year-old hair colourist and mother-of-one from Dublin, has come forward with allegations of rape against MMA star Conor McGregor and another man, James Lawrence. The alleged incident took place in December 2018 in a penthouse suite at a hotel in Dublin, following her work Christmas party. Both McGregor and Lawrence deny the accusations, asserting the sexual encounter was consensual.

“I Can’t Tell You Who It Was… He’ll F****** Kill Me”

A distressing audio recording of Ms. Hand’s conversation with her boyfriend, Stephen Redmond, was played in court, revealing her trauma and fear. Ms. Hand is heard in a distressed state, telling her boyfriend that she was raped and choked multiple times during the encounter. The audio, recorded at 2 a.m. when Ms. Hand returned home, captures her emotional struggle as she says, “I told him no. I’m so sorry.”

Ms. Hand’s boyfriend, concerned for her well-being, insisted that this was not a “shut up and say nothing” situation, underscoring the importance of not keeping quiet.

“In the Morgan… in the Penthouse”: The Alleged Incident

Ms. Hand recounted to her boyfriend that she believed she was at the Morgan Hotel in Temple Bar, though she was actually at the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford. She tearfully explained that she was with a group of girls from her salon but refused to disclose the exact location or people involved, fearing for her safety. “I can’t tell you who it was. He’ll f**** kill me,”** she told her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend responded: “Nikita, you’re going to have to.” Ms. Hand continued to express her fear, saying that she had been warned about the consequences of speaking out.

Ms. Hand’s Account: Struggling and “Choked Three Times”

In the audio, Ms. Hand describes being physically restrained and choked multiple times, which left her unable to breathe. “Look at my knuckles from fighting back,” she is heard saying, detailing the violent encounter. She tearfully asked her boyfriend for comfort, saying, “Just be there for me. Who cares who it was. It doesn’t matter. He still hurt me.”

Ms. Hand revealed there were two men present during the incident and that she had been at the penthouse for a party involving drinking and cocaine. Her boyfriend questioned the circumstances, responding, “It doesn’t sound like a party.”

“Why Me? Why Me?”: Emotional Turmoil in the Courtroom

As the recording played in court, Ms. Hand wept and held her head in her hands, struggling to maintain her composure. In a vulnerable moment, she questioned aloud, “Why me? Why me? Why me?”

Ms. Hand disclosed to her boyfriend that she had confided in her salon manager Emer, who reportedly took photos of her body to document potential evidence of abuse. However, Ms. Hand hesitated to reveal further details, stating her fear of McGregor’s reaction and possible retaliation.

Courtroom Cross-Examination: McGregor’s Barrister Challenges Ms. Hand’s Account

During cross-examination, McGregor’s barrister, Remy Farrell, presented the defense’s version of events, suggesting that Ms. Hand and Mr. McGregor engaged in consensual sexual acts. Farrell proposed that Ms. Hand initiated intimate acts and was aware of her actions during the encounter, an assertion she firmly denied. “No… None of this is true,” she replied, describing the defense’s portrayal as a “made-up story.”

The barrister also suggested that Ms. Hand witnessed a sexual encounter between her friend Danielle and James Lawrence, to which she responded, “That’s disgusting. I don’t agree with any of that.”

DPP’s Decision Not to Pursue Criminal Charges is Irrelevant

Judge Alexander Owens addressed the jury, instructing them to disregard the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) decision not to file criminal charges against McGregor and Lawrence, stating it was irrelevant to the evidence presented in court. Judge Owens emphasized that “the DPP’s view is about as useful as my view… that is to say, no use at all.”

The DPP’s correspondence was only shown to the jury to provide context for Ms. Hand’s decision to pursue a civil case, which was filed only after learning the criminal case would not proceed.

Will Ms. Hand’s Allegations be Vindicated?

As the trial unfolds, the court continues to hear both sides of this high-profile case. Ms. Hand’s emotional testimony and the distressing audio recordings have brought intense focus to her allegations against Conor McGregor and James Lawrence. The court’s decision will hinge on the evaluation of this evidence and the credibility of Ms. Hand’s testimony.

The case highlights serious questions about consent, power dynamics, and the trauma of speaking out against high-profile figures.