Woman seeking damages from Conor McGregor thought she was 'going to die' during alleged rape

Nikita Ní Laimhín told the High Court: 'I was thinking of my daughter and thinking I was going to die and never see my daughter again'

Nikita Ní Laimhin broke down during the second day of her evidence. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA 

WARNING: Some readers may find the following report upsetting

A woman who broke down during the second day of her evidence against Conor McGregor and another man, from whom she is seeking damages for an alleged rape, has told the court that the MMA star was choking her and said she believed she was "going to die" and thought of her daughter.

Nikita Ní Laimhín on Wednesday told Ray Boland SC, for the plaintiff, that she went to a gathering in the early hours of December 9, 2018, at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin when, she alleges, that Mr McGregor pinned her down on a bed with his "whole body-weight down on me and I could not breathe".

"The more I couldn't move or breathe the more he liked it and I put my fists up against my chest," a tearful Ms Ní Laimhín told Mr Boland. Ms Ní Laimhín, who twice broke down while giving emotional evidence, said the only thing she could move was her head and that her "only defence was to bite" Mr McGregor.

Ms Ní Laimhín said that on the night she went to the hotel with her friend, Mr McGregor and his co-defendant James Lawrence, of Rafter's Road, Drimnagh, but was not in the hotel for any sexual relationship. Ms Ní Laimhín had been out on a Christmas work party and has admitted to the court that she was mixing drinks and twice took cocaine during the night.

Both men deny the allegations.

Ms Ní Laimhín said she was fighting Mr McGregor "really hard" when she alleges she was pinned to the bed by the MMA fighter but that he was "choking her" from behind on the bed.

The plaintiff said Mr McGregor had his forearms around her neck and that she "completely froze" and "couldn't get out of it". "I was looking at the bedpost and thinking about my daughter," a shaking Ms Ní Laimhín told Mr Boland.

Ms Ní Laimhín said:

I was thinking of my daughter and thinking I was going to die and never see my daughter again.

Ms Ní Laimhín alleges that Mr McGregor choked her three times with the third time being the "strongest and longest" hold and repeated to Mr Justice Alexander Owens: "I completely thought I was going to die".

She said Mr McGregor then let her go and that she was saying "sorry, sorry" to him to reassure him, so as to not hurt her again. Ms Ní Laimhín alleges that Mr McGregor then said "that is how I felt in the octagon three times", which she said she thought was a "weird thing to say".

Ms Ní Laimhín said she promised Mr McGregor that she would not tell anybody about what happened and then "let him do whatever he had to do" in order "to survive because I wasn't myself anymore". Ms Ní Laimhín says that Mr McGregor then raped her.

The plaintiff said Mr McGregor became "really aggressive", pushed her down onto the bed, dragged her clothes off and pushed her head towards his penis with Ms Ní Laimhín trying to push herself away from the defendant.

"He then raped me and put his penis inside me, inside my vagina," said Ms Ní Laimhín, who said she was lying down at that point and that Mr McGregor was on her back. Ms Ní Laimhín said the alleged rape "felt like it went on for ages" and "then it was over and done".

Ms Ní Laimhín repeated that she felt "completely numb" and that she "completely froze" while Mr McGregor was "choking" her and on top of her.

Conor McGregor (right) with his father Tony McGregor outside the High Court in Dublin on Wednesday. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

The plaintiff told the court that she sustained bruising on her legs, back, neck and hands and that her right breast sustained an abrasion from her own watch, and that Mr McGregor told her to then lie down on the bed and fall asleep after the alleged rape, which Ms Ní Laimhín did.

Ms Ní Laimhín said that she was due her period that day and that a tampon was still inside her during the alleged rape. 

The plaintiff said she then woke up in a panic and texted her boyfriend but told him that she was "having a great time" because she did not want to worry him. Ms Ní Laimhín said she was in a state of confusion as Mr McGregor and her friend left the penthouse suite in the early hours of December 9, 2018.

Ms Ní Laimhín said that she and Mr Lawrence were then left in the penthouse and that he got her food and a drink but that he could not believe the alleged rape happened while he was in the penthouse. Ms Ní Laimhín told Mr Boland that she said to Mr Lawrence "do you all put blind eyes to what Conor is after doing?" and showed him her arms.

Ms Ní Laimhín said she made a statement to gardaí in January 2019 after wanting to have a "normal" Christmas but was “completely devastated” when she was told the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided not prosecute Mr McGregor or Mr Lawrence because there was “no reasonable prospect” of convictions.

Ms Ní Laimhín is giving evidence on the second day of her civil action for damages over the alleged sexual assault of her by Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence on December 9, 2018, at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Owens and a jury of eight women and four men.

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