has been ordered to pay court costs related to the lawsuit filed by a woman who claimed the UFC star sexually assaulted her at a hotel in Dublin, Ireland, in 2018.
On Thursday, Judge Alexander Owens ordered McGregor to pay costs incurred by Nikita Hand after a jury found him liable in a civil lawsuit against the veteran fighter. According to reports, legal costs could reach 1 million euros (approximately $1.05 million). .
The legal fees are in addition to the costs of compensatory damages, which Hand was awarded and McGregor was ordered to pay €248,603.60 (approximately $258,440).
The judge rejected a request from Hand's attorneys to seek reimbursement on an “attorney-client basis,” which is the maximum amount possible.
James Lawrence, who was tried alongside McGregor but was not found guilty of sexual assault in the same case, is barred from claiming court costs against Hand under the judge's order.
During the recent trial, the judge also addressed McGregor's ongoing outbursts on social media, in which he made numerous statements attacking the verdict, while also revealing plans to appeal the verdict. Owens said Thursday he hasn't decided what he will do with McGregor's statements but may charge him with contempt of court, calling his actions “highly irresponsible.”
The judge added that McGregor was a “very rich man” and could afford to pay any fine resulting from a possible contempt of court charge.
After an 11-day trial, McGregor was found liable by the jury after Hand claimed he “raped and abused” her during an assault in 2018. McGregor and his lawyers countered by stating that the “sex with [McGregor] was sporty, physical,” but completely consensual.
Following the trial, McGregor made several statements After spending more than a decade with his fiancée Dee Devlin, who is also the mother of his four children, he vehemently denied assaulting Hand.
“People want to hear from me, I needed time,” McGregor wrote in November. “I know I made mistakes. six years ago I should never have responded to their inquiries. I should have closed the party. I should never have left the woman I love most. This is all my fault.
“As much as I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual, and all witnesses present swore so under oath. I have instructed my legal team to appeal the decision.”
Devlin targeted Hand's allegations after the trial concluded.
McGregor's lawyers said Thursday it was “highly likely” the case would be appealed.
Since the conclusion of the trial, the fallout for McGregor has continued, with numerous business partners cutting ties with him – the whiskey brand he founded and later sold for hundreds of millions of dollars. After the ruling, Proximo Spirits, the current owner of the Proper No. label, said. 12 said that the brand would no longer be associated with McGregor and explained that he was not even a minority owner of the whiskey.
