Judge: McGregor jury may consider whether he ‘fabricated pornographic fantasy’

The jury in a civil case against Conor McGregor may wonder whether the Irish mixed martial arts fighter “concocted a lurid and degrading pornographic fantasy” about a woman who accuses him of raping her in a hotel.

Judge Alexander Owens told the jury on Wednesday that if they conclude that Mr McGregor assaulted Ms Hand and assess damages in the case, they can take that into account when determining aggravated damages.

Mr McGregor is accused in the civil suit of “brutally raping and assaulting” Nikita Hand at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.

The Irish sports star previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel.

Ms Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, is also suing another man, James Lawrence, for assault.

Continuing his indictment to the jury of four men and eight women, Judge Owens said the statement McGregor made to police after the alleged incident was not admissible as it was a statement made outside court.

However, they may consider whether he “made up” a story about Mrs. Hand.

Judge Owens also told the jury they cannot speculate and must consider all the evidence.

He told them that they could not speculate about what a witness would say if they were more forthcoming when giving evidence in court.

He said a more reliable witness is the silent witness, who refers to CCTV footage and phone records.

He said the “silent witness” has no “axe to grind” and will be considered more trustworthy.

Judge Owens urged the jury to look carefully at the CCTV footage, adding that they are not bound by counsel’s opinions regarding what they saw in the footage.

He also warned the jury that witnesses are “notoriously inaccurate” when talking about times, especially those who have consumed alcohol.

He said it can be futile to ask someone his or her view of time because you only get “estimates.”

He further referred to evidence from Mr Lawrence, who claimed he had sex with Ms Hand’s girlfriend, Danielle Kealy, three times in a short period of time before they left the hotel.

The jury was also told that Ms Hand’s evidence is that she texted her ex-boyfriend when she woke up in the hotel room shortly after 6pm, but that CCTV footage shows her in the hotel car park when she received the text sent.

“Was this a lie or something she was confused about?” Mr. Owens introduced the jury.

He also asked them to consider what they could see of Ms Hand and Mr Lawrence in the lift as they tried to return to the hotel room, as well as footage showing the pair leaving the hotel shortly after 10.30pm.

On damages, Judge Owens urged the jury to “stay away” from what is in the pleadings, including references to Ms. Hand as a “fraud” and a “gold digger.”