Dublin
Reuters
—

Irish Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor denied in a Dublin court on Wednesday that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2018, saying a civil case against him and another man was “full of lies”.

Plaintiff Nikita Hand claims McGregor sexually assaulted her on December 9, 2018, and that another man, James Lawrence, did the same, the court heard last week.

McGregor, 36, told the court he had “fully consensual sex” with Hand and never forced anyone to do anything against their will. He took the stand for the first time on the sixth day of the trial.

“Your client is full of lies. It’s all a lie,” the former UFC champion said after being asked by Hand’s lawyer about her testimony putting her in a bind.

He also denied causing the bruises to the complainant.

Hand’s lawyer accused McGregor of pressing so hard on her watch that there was still a mark on her skin days later.

Hand’s lawyer said last week that when she was sent to a sexual assault treatment facility the day after the alleged assault, a doctor was so concerned that he ordered photographs of her injuries.

Hand said she and a friend contacted McGregor, whom she knew, after a work Christmas party.

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

She said McGregor took a bedroom in her penthouse and sexually assaulted her. Hand’s lawyer, John Gordon, said Hand was on anti-depressants and “high on drugs” at the time of the alleged attack.

The judge told the jury of eight women and four men that the trial was expected to last two weeks.