After being found responsible for sexual assault in 2018 UFC superstar Conor McGregor was dealt a few more public blows during a civil trial in Dublin, but the Irish star has now broken his silence.
McGregor tookformerly Twitter, to once again proclaim its innocence in the assault of Nikita Hand, to whom the jury awarded approximately $258,300. McGregor took responsibility for cheating on his longtime partner Dee Devlin with Hand, but maintained his stance that the situation was consensual.
“People want to hear from me, I needed time,” McGregor wrote. “I know I made mistakes. Six years ago, I should never have responded to his requests. I should have ended the party. I should never have attacked the woman I love most in the world. It all depends on me.
“While I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual and all witnesses present swore to it under oath. I have asked my legal team to appeal the decision.”
McGregor then turned his attention to claims that he would return to the UFC Octagon, where he has not fought since his back-to-back 2021 losses to Dustin Poirier.
“I can’t go back and I will move forward,” McGregor wrote. “I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and supporters around the world who have stood by me. That’s it. No more. Back to the gym, the fight match awaits!”
Following the jury’s decision, McGregor saw some outside interests suffer the consequences.
Video game developer IO Interactive announced it would pull all sales of content featuring McGregor, who appeared in the popular “HITMAN World of Assassination” featuring his portrayal and voiceover work.
Similarly, major Irish retailers such as Tesco, SuperValu, Centra, Costcutter, Carry Out, BWG Foods and others have all made the decision to stop stocking Proper No. Twelve Irish whisky, the brand McGregor sold to Proximo Spirits in 2021 but who continues to do so. featured McGregor in its branding and marketing, as well as Forged Irish Stout, which McGregor owns.
Promixmo Spirits has since released a statement saying: “In the future, we do not plan to use Mr. McGregor’s name and likeness in brand marketing. »
McGregor said he had instructed his legal team to appeal the recent court decision.
