Nikita Hand Awarded Damages as Ex-Neighbours Drop Lawsuit in McGregor Appeal Fallout

Dublin, Ireland – Nikita Hand is set to receive damages after her former neighbours, Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins, failed to respond to a lawsuit accusing them of abusing court processes during Conor McGregor’s appeal of a civil jury finding in her favour. The case stems from affidavits submitted by O’Reilly and Cummins in support of McGregor’s appeal, which Hand alleged were fabricated.

Background of the Case

In November 2024, a civil jury in Ireland awarded Nikita Hand more than $250,000 in damages after finding that Conor McGregor sexually assaulted her in a Dublin hotel penthouse in 2018 . Hand, too known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, testified that the assault occurred after a night of heavy partying and left her with extensive bruising and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) .

The Appeal and Withdrawn Evidence

McGregor appealed the civil jury’s decision. During the appeal proceedings in July, McGregor attempted to introduce sworn statements from O’Reilly and Cummins, claiming their evidence supported his assertion that he was not responsible for Hand’s injuries. However, this application was withdrawn before it could be fully considered .

Hand’s Lawsuit Against Ex-Neighbours

Following the dismissal of his appeal, Hand filed a lawsuit against McGregor, Cummins, and O’Reilly, alleging “malicious abuse” of court processes. She argued that the affidavits submitted by her former neighbours were intentionally misleading. On Monday, February 23, 2026, the High Court granted judgment in default of appearance against O’Reilly and Cummins, as they did not respond to Hand’s claim , .

Damages to be Assessed

Judge Emily Egan has placed a stay on the orders for four weeks, allowing time for any potential response from the defendants. The High Court will now assess the amount of damages owed to Hand by her former neighbours .