'New evidence' in Conor's appeal of rape case

CONOR McGregor wants to introduce fresh evidence in support of his appeal to overturn a civil jury's verdict that he raped a woman.

- BY CATE McCURRY

The Court of Appeal in Dublin heard that a motion will be brought to cite alleged new evidence from two people in early May.

The court was told that the new evidence will have to satisfy a three-fold test before it can be admitted to the court.

First it must have been in existence at the time of the trial and that it could not have been obtained “with reasonable diligence;” that the evidence would probably have had an important influence on the result of the case; and that the new evidence must be presumed to be believed, in that it must be credible.

Last November, Nikita Hand won her claim against McGregor after accusing the professional fighter of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

Ms Hand, 35, was awarded damages and costs after a three-week trial in which the jury found him civilly liable for assault.

Ray Boland SC, for Ms Hand, said he would be opposing the application for the fresh evidence.

He said the other grounds of appeal related to complaints about the trial.