Jury sworn in for civil action case against Conor McGregor over alleged sexual assault

High Court Reporters

A jury has been sworn in for the High Court civil trial of MMA star Conor McGregor, who, along with another male defendant, is accused of the "in effect, rape" of a woman at a hotel in Dublin in 2018.

Mr Justice Owens, in outlining the case to the jury panel, said that Mr McGregor is alleged to have sexually assaulted Nikita Ní Laimhín, which Mr Justice Owens said "in effect, amounted to a rape [accusation]" alleged to have happened in December 2018.

At the High Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Owens was told by Ray Boland SC, for the plaintiff, that the trial would take two weeks.

Mr McGregor (36) attended the court in a dark blue suit, navy tie and white shirt and was flanked by his father, Tony, and his co-defendant, who all sat towards the rear of the court.

Mr Justice Owens told the jury panel that the complainant in the case is Ms Laimhín, who is a hair-colourist, and that the case was a civil action against both defendants, from whom the plaintiff is claiming damages.

Mr Justice Owens said the jury of eight women and four men were the judges of fact in the case and to make themselves available for three weeks, should the case over-run.

The judge said that the jury were judges of fact and were not to think "anything that glitters is gold", not to discuss the case with others and not to be "private detectives" doing their own research. "You have enough to be doing," said Mr Justice Owens.

Ms Ní Laimhín's damages claim for alleged sexual assault against Mr McGregor was lodged against the celebrity fighter three years ago.

The action was due to be heard in late June or early July but was put back after Mr McGregor succeeded in an opposing application to adjourn the hearing to allow him take part in a UFC comeback bout against Michael Chandler in Las Vegas.

That contest, however, was cancelled after Mr McGregor broke his toe in training.

The allegations in the actions are fully denied by Mr McGregor, who was once the highest-paid sportsperson in the world, and his co-defendant.

Last month, lawyers for the woman were granted permission by Ms Justice Denise Brett to subpoena witnesses and statements in the case.

The plaintiff is represented by Ray Boland SC, John Gordon SC and Siún Leonowicz BL. Mr McGregor is represented by Remy Farrell SC.