Jury finds MMA star Conor McGregor sexually assaulted Nikita Hand ...

Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor sexually assaulted a woman in 2018 and has been ordered to pay her €248,000 ($400,000) in damages, a jury in a civil case has found.

Nikita Hand alleged that McGregor, one of the world's highest paid athletes, raped her in a Dublin hotel room in December 2018.

Ms Hand said that she and a friend made contact with McGregor, who she knew, after a work Christmas party. 

She said they were driven by McGregor to a party in a penthouse room of a south Dublin hotel where drugs and alcohol were consumed.

The verdict was reached at the conclusion of a two-week civil trial in Ireland's high court, by a jury of eight women and four men.

They handed down their decision after just over six hours of deliberations.

Following the verdict, McGregor left court without commenting.

Ms Hand also alleged a second man, James Lawrence, had assaulted her. The jury found Mr Lawrence did not assault her.

McGregor, 36, has repeatedly denied the allegations and claimed he had "fully consensual sex" with Ms Hand.

She alleged McGregor took her a bedroom in the penthouse and sexually assaulted her. 

Ms Hand says she wants others to come forward with their experiences. (Reuters: Clodagh Kilcoyne)

Ms Hand's lawyer, John Gordon, said she was on antidepressants, and "full of drugs" at the time of the alleged assault.

The court also heard that when she was referred to a sexual assault treatment unit the day after the alleged assault, a doctor was so concerned that he directed that photographs be taken of her injuries.

McGregor has denied being responsible for the bruising.

Ms Hand reported the incident to the police at the time, but prosecutors declined to bring charges, citing insufficient evidence and an unlikely chance at a conviction.

Speaking outside the court, Ms Hand said she was overwhelmed by the support she had received and felt vindicated.

"I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up," she said.

The now-retired MMA star earnt $180 million in 2021, making him the world's highest paid athlete in 2021, according to Forbes. 

Reuters