Conor McGregor trial LIVE updates as sex assault civil action case enters sixth day

"The most scared thing I have gone through in my life”

“I went to sleep and woke up when James Lawrence pulled my leg,” Mr McGregor says.

“I wanted to go home but Nikita wanted to keep the party going. I wanted to leave, I had nothing left. I just walked out,” he adds.

Mr McGregor says Ms Kealey needed a lift home and he said: “Yous can do what you want, I am going.” He said he left the car for them.

Mr McGregor said there were no bruises on Ms Hand and “not an iota of distress - from the car, lift in the bedroom, entire process, all throughout the evening”.

Mr Farrell says Ms Hand had said there was a lot of chatter on social media about a sports star. Mr McGregor says he remembers and said: “It’s definitely not me.

“It’s definitely not me. When I heard about a sports star, I was shocked and frightened beyond belief. The most scared thing I have gone through in my life,” Mr McGregor says.

Mr McGregor says he had consensual sex with Mr McGregor and there was "no discussion of a tampon"

Mr McGregor says said he and Ms Hand had sex, which was fully consensual, in the missionary position.

He said they began to have sex again when Nikita propositioned him.

“There was no tampon that I could see, what I could feel, no discussion of a tampon,” Mr McGregor says.

Mr McGregor says Ms Hand performed oral sex on him at the hotel

Mr McGregor says he first touched Ms Hand in the car and said that they were kissing and touching.

“I thought we were getting on well,” he says.

Mr McGregor says that, at the hotel, Nikita followed him into the bathroom.

“She was very boisterous, very energetic, very enthusiastic as I began zipping up my trousers after using the toilet, we began kissing and became more passionate and it took off from there,” he says.

“She performed oral sex on me at that moment. We were both clothed and then began to take off our clothes. It progressed very quickly.”

Mr McGregor says he received "a sleuth of messages" from Ms Hand

Mr McGregor said he went to Krystle nightclub and while there, he received “a sleuth of messages” from Ms Hand but said he wasn't responding as he was with friends.

He said Ms Hand said that she was on a Christmas party and told Mr McGregor to “come out to us, come out and get us”.

“I was of the belief I was going to their party in the salon, joking about getting my hair done,” Mr McGregor said.

He said he “knew of” Ms Hand but had never met her and had never met Ms Kealey so there were no plans.

He said when he arrived at the salon, there “wasn’t really a disagreement” with Danielle in the car.

“Then Nikita came into the car she was very bombastic and energetic,” Mr McGregor said.

“They dived into the car and I felt myself going back against the window. Maybe Danielle (Ms (Kealey) thought I was showing off my watch or being a show off. I didn’t feel that was the case. It wasn't necessarily a disagreement.”

“It’s nice and relaxing in the car,” he added.

Mr McGregor says Ms Hand messaged him privately on Instagram

Mr McGregor tells his Senior Counsel, Remy Farrell: “Nikita and I are from the same area. I didn’t know her personally, knew of her, seen her around and moved in the same circles.

Mr McGregor says Nikita used to follow him on Instagram and send him messages. He says he uses Instagram for his business.

“Modern day life, you share some things that you are doing and people can engage with you,” Mr McGregor says.

“Her page is private, I don’t follow her. One of the times a message came through and I responded. It was a compliment, a nice message. I know her as a friendly girl and began chatting online then,” Mr McGregor says.

He said, on the night he went to District 8 at the Old Tivoli where DJ sets were being played. He said the organiser of the event invited him up on stage and he took a picture with the DJ and the crowd and posted it to his Instagram stories for the public.

“Something I’d do often,” he says.

Mr McGregor adds: “Ms Hand responded privately, sent me a picture of herself in a red jumpsuit in the evening, slightly provocative and asked me where I was and told me where she was and began talking then. It was a nice picture, I liked it.”

Conor McGregor takes to the stand

Mr McGregor explains he wasn’t in court this morning because he was “a little under the weather last night, a stomach complaint"

Ms Kealey says herself, Ms Hand, Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence took cocaine in the car

Questioned by Ms Hand’s lawyer, Mr John Gordon, Ms Kealey says she didn’t know why they were driving around for several hours. Ms Kealey says she remembers going into various housing estates. She said she and Mr McGregor “didn’t get along at the start.”

“I can’t remember what the problem was,” Ms Kealey says.

Ms Kealey says she remembers going to the house of Mr Lawrence and he was picked up. She said there was cocaine in the car and said Mr McGregor, herself, Ms Hand and Mr Lawrence took cocaine.

In her initial statement, Ms Kealey said Mr Lawrence didn’t try anything but changed her initial statement saying: “I didn’t feel it was anything to do with the case.”

Ms Kealey says she "can't remember" when asked if she heard noises suggesting Ms Hand and Mr McGregor were having sex

When asked when Ms Hand hugged her, Ms Kealey said it was in the car.

After Ms Hand sent her the message, she said she never saw or heard from Ms Hand again.

Ms Kealey said Ms Hand’s solicitor subpoenaed her to court. Barrister for James Lawrence, John Fitzgerald, SC, put it to Ms Kealey that she heard noises that suggested Mr McGregor and Ms Hand were having sex.

“I can’t remember,” Ms Kealey responds.

Ms Kealey also said she “can’t remember” saying: ‘She’s going to regret that, she just bought a house with her boyfriend.’

Mr Fitzgerald suggests to Ms Kealy that Ms Hand was coming in and out of the room while Ms Kealey was engaged in sexual activity.

Ms Kealey says: “She didn’t appear distressed when she was coming in and out of the bedroom. Not that I noticed.

Ms Kealey says she can’t remember Ms Hand making a lewd comment when Mr Lawrence was kissing Ms Kealey’s stomach.

Ms Kealey resumes her evidence after a lunch break

Footage is being viewed of Ms Kealey, Ms Hand, Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence in the lift of the hotel.

When asked by Remy Farrell, BL if she can recall it, she says she can’t remember, but watched the footage.

Described them as all being in a good mood and continued to be throughout the afternoon.

Footage shown of the four going back in the lift. Ms Kealey said the mood was “similar.”

Ms Kealey admits being intimate with James Lawrence

Ms Kealey admitted being intimate with James Lawrence on the night and said “condoms were used.”

Ms Kealey says she saw Ms Hand and Mr McGregor go into the other room in the hotel

Ms Kealey says “everything was fine” in the hotel room.

“I think vodka was brought to the room,” she says.

“I know Conor McGregor and Hand went into the other room, I saw them go in. I didn't know what was happening in there. She came back out and everything was fine. This was just before we left.

“Everything was fine, I didn’t notice anything that happened. No one seemed upset.” Ms Kealey says she didn’t notice any marks or injuries on anyone, neither Mr McGregor or Ms Hand.

“My phone was broken so I asked Conor if I could get a lift with him as I lived nearby” she says.

“He didn't agree at first but I asked the driver and then he agreed. Nikita and James were supposed to get into the other car and go home. I said goodbye to Nikita and gave her a hug. She wanted everyone to stay but can’t remember why,” Ms Kealey adds.

Ms Kealey says she heard from Ms Hand a few days later, through Instagram, to say that she had been raped.

"I was surprised, I didn’t see anything,” says Ms Kealey, who adds that Ms Hand told her to delete the Instagram chat.

"She rang me when she was in the Rotunda said that she was raped. I told her I didn't see or hear anything,” Ms Kealey adds.

Ms Kealey recalls arriving at the Beacon Hotel

Ms Kealey said Mr McGregor collected them at the salon, drove around for a little while and went to the hotel.

“He was in the back of the black car, there was a driver. I got into the back. Don’t remember what the chat there was in the car,” Ms Kealey says.

Ms Kealey adds that she remembers “a little bit in the car”, that it stopped at two houses and that Mr Lawrence came out of the second house before the car proceeded to the hotel.

“I think we went directly into the hotel, I think the driver went to reception, we didn’t. I can't remember where we were,” Ms Kealey says.

Ms Kealey doesn't remember any contact with Conor McGregor until the early hours of the morning

Questioned by Senior Counsel for Mr McGregor, Remy Farrell, Ms Kealey said on December 8, 2018 the salon had its Christmas party, when they all went to Airfield.

“It was just a big Christmas party, loads of parties were there,” Ms Kealey said.

“We were there for a few hours and left early. We went back to the Goat pub in Goatstown straight across the road from the salon. We were all there - Jade, Orla, Chloe, Michelle, John and Gerard and girls from other salons.

When asked if she remembered Conor McGregor being mentioned, Ms Kealey said she hadn’t until the end of the night when they were in the salon and that the Goat bar had closed at that stage.

“I think Nikita was chatting to him on Instagram. I didn’t see the messages,” she said.

Ms Kealey said it was in the early hours of the morning we were going to go out to McGregor.

“He was going to collect us. I don't remember any calls back and forth,” she said.

Danielle Kealey takes to the stand

Ms Kealy was a work colleague of Ms Hand at the time of the alleged incident

Det Gda Codd confirms he was there when photos of Beacon Hotel penthouse were taken

Judge Owens asked Det Gda Codd to clarify if he was there when photos of the rooms were taken - he says he was. Det Gda Codd was provided with the two physical keys for interlocking doors from housekeeping. When in a locked position, it prevents the door from being closed fully.

“You can take the key out in the open position as well,” he said.

Det Gda Dodd details investigating the doors in the penthouse at the Beacon Hotel

Det Gda Codd said he attended the Beacon Hotel on the night of December 11 and asked if Conor McGregor had stayed there the night before.

He said the purpose of the visit was to see how the locking mechanism worked on the interconnecting doors between the two rooms in the penthouse.

Det Gda Codd said guests need a card to get into the room, but need keys for interlocking doors. When you book the two rooms together, the interlocking doors are open, he said.

Det Gda Dodd said he can’t give any direct evidence on the state of the doors on the 10 December.

Detective Garda James Codd takes to the stand

Detective Garda James Codd of Dundrum Garda Station said he became involved in the investigation on December 11, 2018.

Actuary claims €594,550 as future loss of earnings for Ms Hand if she doesn't work again

Mr Byrne says Ms Hand’s gross loss of earnigns to date, from 2019 to August 2024, assuming she was on €400 a week plus €100 tips, would be: €136,122

He took the same approach to future loss of earnings, saying that if Ms Hand doesn’t work again, her net loss would be €594,550.

Peter Byrne takes to the stand

Peter Byrne is an actuary in court to provide evidence on the value of Ms Hand's lost earnings to date and her future loss of earnings

Return to hair salon for Ms Hand would be "too difficult" as it's "too triggering", Ms Breen says

In April 2024, Ms Breen met Ms Hand and she was on disability allowance - a means-tested allowance that is not easy to get and demonstrates a level of incapacity.

Ms Hand made two attempts to go back to work and in February 2023, worked with Grosvenor Cleaning Cleaning at NCAD Monday to Friday, two hours a day, from 8am to 10am.

By December 2023, Ms Hand handed in her notice as she had increased anxiety and panic attacks. She had hoped the role would be suitable as it didn’t involve dealing with the public.

“She saw it as a way of getting back to work - first steps in vocational rehabilitation,” Ms Breen says.

Ms Breen says that in February 2024, Ms Hand wanted to return to hairdressing and started work at a salon in Walkinstown - but found it extremely anxiety-provoking and triggering and she was certified as unfit for work by a GP after six weeks in the role.

“She now needs a safe and predictable environment - where there is routine. A customer-facing role is too triggering for Nikita,” says Ms Breen.

“It would be too difficult for her to return to a hair salon. It’s too triggering for her,” she adds.

Ms Hand is “not fit for competitive employment”, says Ms Breen

Ms Breen gave evidence that Ms Hand had symptoms of PTSD and psychological issues when she assessed her in December 2020 and April 2024.

Ms Breen said Ms Hand had attempted to return to work two months after the alleged assaults, but she lacked ability to communicate, was very tearful, was emotionally fragile and found work a difficult place to be.

Ms Breen said Ms Hand was certificated unfit for work in May 2019 and handed in her notice.

“It was unusual as you don’t hand in notice when unwell, you go on sick leave,” said Ms Breen.

“Her ambition was to continue working in Gerard Paul salon where she was very happy in her job. She talked about the L’Oreal hairdressing competition.

“She found it extremely challenging to continue working.”

Ms Breen said Ms Hand is “not fit for competitive employment”.

“I advised her to investigate re-training, something that is not so customer-based and not so triggering for her,” she said.

Elva Breen takes to the stand

Elva Breen is an Occupational Therapist

Mr Murphy says Ms Hand took some time off after the events of December 2018 “owing to her depression and anxiety”

Mr McMahon said Ms Hand was going to compete in a prestigious hairdressing competition in 2019 but didn’t. He said Ms Hand worked in the salon since 2014 and took three years off following the birth of her daughter.

In December 2018, Mr McMahon said Ms Hand was working four days a week at the salon, getting a base pay of €400 a week, and tips on top of her salary.

Mr McMahon said Ms Hand took a period of time out after December 2018 “owing to her depression and anxiety”. He said she was off for two months and returned four days a week in February 2019.

“She went four days a week for a time but she struggled. She struggled and became less reliable and there were no shows two days a week at times,” he says.

Mr McMahon said Ms Hand was going to compete in a L'oreal hairdressing competition in 2019, the most prestigious hair-colouring competition in Ireland, but decided against it.

“She knew she was good but I wouldn't say she was overly ambitious,” he says.

“She was doing colour for other stylists and could have built up her own clientele over a number of years.”

Mr John McMahon takes to the stand

Mr John McMahon is the Co-Owner of Gerard Paul Hairdressing, where Ms Hand worked prior to the alleged incident involving Ms Hand and Mr McGregor.

"1,000 million times more likely" Male DNA originated from Conor McGregor than from an unknown person

Dr Murphy said that Ms Hand had recollection of sex with James Lawrence.

Dr Murphy said that samples were taken from Ms Hand during a medical examination.

“Conor McGregor said he had consensual intercourse with Ms Hand and Mr Lawrence said he consensually touched her vagina and had consensual sex twice with Ms Hand and wore a condom on both occasions," Dr Murphy said.

“It is not possible for me to address the issue of consent. The purpose is to examine her clothing and intimate spots for semen,” Dr Murphy added.

Dr Murphy said that DNA profiling was carried out on Ms Hand’s vaginal area, that there was evidence of full male DNA, and that it was "1,000 million times more likely" the DNA originated from McGregor than from an unknown person.

“James Laurence was excluded as a possible contributor, there was insufficient semen,” added Dr Murphy.

Dr Murphy said Ms Hand claimed Conor McGregor "digitally penetrated her" and put penis in her mouth without her consent

Dr Murphy said she gave three reports on December 19, 2018, January 30, 2019 and a final report in March 2020.

“In order for us to know what analysis to carry, out we need certain pieces of information,” said Dr Murphy.

“Nikita Hand has a poor reflection of events, but she said Mr McGregor digitally penetrated her and put penis in her mouth without her consent.

Dr Charlotte Murphy takes to the stand

The first witness today is Dr Charlotte Murphy, Forensic Scientist for Forensic Science Ireland.

Proceedings are due to get underway at 10.30am

Today's proceedings are set to begin within the next 15 minutes

Sex assault civil action case enters sixth day

The trial is due to enter its sixth day before Judge Owens and a jury of eight women and four men this morning.

Here's a full report on everything that happened yesterday at the High Court.

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