Nikita Hand's home broken into and partner stabbed in incident earlier this year
Ms Hand's home was invaded by a “group of men with balaclavas” who “burst” into her bedroom - her partner received “stab wounds” in the process
The judge in the Conor McGregor case ruled against the jury hearing about a break-in at Nikita Hand’s home and her partner being stabbed.
The ruling was made by Judge Alexander Owens on the first day of the High Court case in which Ms Hand was suing McGregor for damages over an alleged rape at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin.
John Gordon, SC for the plaintiff, had asked for the evidence to be heard and told those gathered in the absence of a jury about the alleged break-in at Ms Hand’s home in June of this year.
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The court was told that her home was invaded by a “group of men with balaclavas” who “burst” into her bedroom - and her partner received “stab wounds” in the process. Her young daughter, who was in another room, dialled 999 and Gardaí soon arrived, the court was told.
The windows of the house were broken during the incident, the court heard. Ms Hand’s Counsel said he was not laying the attack at the feet of Conor McGregor but said “we do make the claim that it is not an untargeted attack and it arose from supporters of the first named defendant (McGregor)".
Mr Gordon said the incident is relevant to his client’s claim because she had to move from the Drimnagh area. He said he was not making the claim that Mr McGregor had anything to do with the incident.
Judge Owens said it was a matter that would be left open to “big speculation” if Ms Hand’s counsel were not tendering any evidence that Mr McGregor had anything to do with it. Mr Gordon said he believed the matter was relevant to his client’s “state of anxiety” and her moving out of the Drimnagh area.
Remy Farrell, SC for Conor McGregor, said it seemed Ms Hand was "acknowledging this incident which we know nothing about has nothing to do with us”. He said it seemed “extraordinary” to “smuggle something like that into the case” and called it an unprecedented claim.
Judge Owens ruled that the matter was “completely and utterly irrelevant” and stated that it shouldn’t be referred to. Later during the case, Dr Frank Clarke said in the witness box that his client had to be put back on medication following a “very difficult event”. Dr Clarke was referring to his most recent meeting with Ms Hand earlier this year.
After he stated this, the jury were briefly sent out of the room - and Judge Owens stated that it appeared the doctor was referring to the incident in which Ms Hand’s home was broken into. He said now that the jury had heard about this “difficult event”, it may be likely they will hear more about it.
However the incident never came up after this point throughout the trial.
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