Conor McGregor's defense is being investigated for alleged bribery in assault case

Conor McGregor is a UFC star. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/thenotoriousmma

The Court of Appeal of Ireland has forwarded evidence relating to the appeal to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Conor McGregor against the conviction for civil sexual assault. The decision came after the fighter's defense suddenly withdrew key testimony that was to be used to dispute injuries to plaintiff Nikita Hand. The material will be investigated for possible perjury and bribery of false information.

On Tuesday (1st), the former UFC champion's legal team dropped claims that Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, Hand's neighbors in 2018, witnessed a physical altercation between her and her then-partner, Stephen Redmond, hours after meeting McGregor at the Beacon Hotel.

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In sworn statements, O'Reilly claimed to have seen Redmond "punch and kick" Hand, suggesting that this would explain his injuries. Cummins reported "disturbing screams" at the residence. The strategy was aimed at extricating the athlete from the charges.

The defense justified the withdrawal by saying that a report by expert Jack Crane, which was necessary to corroborate the accounts, was inadmissible. Three judges reacted with skepticism. One declared "incomprehension," another used "perplexity" to describe the maneuver.

John Gordon, Nikita Hand's lawyer, demanded reparations and requested a referral to the DPP to investigate possible perjury by witnesses and bribery by McGregor, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in Ireland. The court granted the request but deferred decisions on costs until the final hearing of the appeal.

Hand, who was present in court with family members, was never able to publicly refute the neighbors' accusations because the evidence was withheld. In court documents, he called the statements "fabricated lies" and denied any violence by Redmond.

Understand the case

In November, a civil jury in Ireland convicted Conor McGregor for sexually assaulting a woman in a luxury hotel in Dublin after a party in December 2018. As it was a civil conviction, the decision did not imply criminal consequences, such as prison, but resulted in compensation of 250 thousand euros (around R$ 1,5 million) from the fighter to the victim Nikita Hand.

The fighter maintained that the sex was consensual and 'intense', but did not cause bruising. The civil verdict does not carry a prison sentence, unlike a criminal conviction, which has never been formalized against the Irishman.

McGregor has not fought in the UFC since 2021

McGregor, who is in the midst of a legal battle and in a physical recovery phase, has faced a series of setbacks since the injury he suffered in 2021.

The Irishman, who won titles in two categories, faced and defeated legends such as José Aldo, Eddie Alvarez and Khabib Nurmagomedov. He hasn't played in almost four years, when he broke his leg against Dustin poirier.