Two charged with perjury in Ireland over false evidence in McGregor sexual assault civil case

Two people have been charged with perjury in Dublin after allegedly lying to authorities during Conor McGregor’s failed appeal in the civil case that found him liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in 2018.

Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins appeared in a Dublin court on Tuesday, charged with giving statements they knew to be false during the trial. The pair had been under investigation since McGregor’s appeal was dismissed.

O’Reilly, a former neighbour of Hand, had submitted an affidavit as part of McGregor’s appeal claiming she witnessed a physical altercation between Hand and her ex-boyfriend around the time of the alleged assault in 2018. Hand denied those claims, and the evidence was subsequently withdrawn from the appeal.

The original civil case concluded with a jury finding McGregor liable for the assault. He was ordered to pay Hand £206,000 ($271,742) along with legal fees.

McGregor has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. Speaking in July ahead of a scheduled UFC comeback against Max Holloway, he reiterated that position.

“I am an innocent man,” McGregor said. “I’ll stand for my innocence until the day I go out. This is still a situation where I fight. It stings deep. I continue to fight. I know the truth. I know that lying lips are an abomination to the lord. I know that anything done in darkness will soon come to light. I trust in god that it’s coming. You best believe it’s coming, and I look very, very forward to the day.”