‘SHOCK' THAT DPP RULED NO CHARGES Conor 'rape' probe won't be reopened

Gardai investigation into Nikita hotel attack claim is closed despite High Court verdict

- BY PAUL HEALY and MICHAEL O'TOOLE

GARDAI will not reopen the investigation into Conor McGregor over the alleged rape of Nikita Hand - and consider the case closed.

This paper has learned that officers are not in any way reexamining or re-investigating the alleged December 2018 rape of Ms Hand at Dublin's Beacon Hotel by the UFC fighter.

This is despite a High Court civil jury's finding that he raped her, and the recent Court of Appeal judgment upholding that decision.

It comes as we can also reveal that officers who investigated the alleged rape back in 2018 were left gobsmacked and frustrated when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ruled there would be no charges.

Sources have confirmed that investigators at the time found Ms Hand to be credible - and gardai recommended to the DPP that McGregor be charged with rape. Sources further told us that investigating gardai believed the matter would be going to trial - and they were upset to learn of the decision by the DPP, which found that there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction from a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.

"There was a lot of frustration about that decision," a source said. "It was believed that this would go to trial. People weren't happy about it."

Despite those frustrations within the force itself, and the finding of a civil jury, gardai have not opted to look at the case again.

PUBLICITY

This paper understands that there is no appetite to reopen the file - and some investigators believe that the DPP would throw it out again, due to the level of publicity that now surrounds it.