Conor McGregor co-defendant James Lawrence sues Nikita Hand over civil case

A statement from Mr Lawrence's lawyers said: 'Our client is reluctantly bringing this action to protect his reputation and his family in pursuit of justice and to ensure truth and transparency.'

The Court of Appeal had said it would not award James Lawrence (pictured) his costs for several reasons, including that a court had previously heard Mr McGregor had paid his legal fees. File photo: Niall Carson/PA

James Lawrence, the friend and co-defendant of Conor McGregor, has launched legal proceedings against Nikita Hand alleging “abuse of process” arising from the high-profile civil trial, his solicitor has said.

While a High Court jury found that McGregor civilly liable for the assault of Ms Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, it did not find that Mr Lawrence raped her.

However, both the High Court and the Court of Appeal refused to award Mr Lawrence his costs in the case.

The Court of Appeal said it would not award Mr Lawrence his costs for several reasons, including that a court had previously heard Mr McGregor had paid his legal fees.

The three-judge court also said the jury must not have accepted Mr Lawrence’s claims he had consensual sex with Ms Hand. To make an award for costs to Mr Lawrence, the court said, it may be passed on to Mr McGregor and this should be taken into account.

While Mr Lawrence was represented by the same firm representing Mr McGregor in the civil High Court proceedings, Michael Staines & Co, a statement was issued on his behalf by a separate firm, Mulholland Law, on Friday.

In a statement, the firm said: “We have been instructed to seek damages arising from this abuse of process by Ms Hand, her servants and/or agents, in which our client was maliciously subjected to such horrendous litigation.” 

 The statement said Mr Lawrence co-operated fully with gardaí and the DPP determined there was no case against their client.

“Despite this, a frivolous legal action was issued unnecessarily against our client, exposing him to substantial cost implications and several years of media scrutiny and sensationalist tabloid publications undermining his good standing and character,” it said.

“The litigation brought against Mr Lawrence was highly improper and vexatious, which was corroborated by Ms Hand during her evidence – he did not assault her, nor did he rape her. Ms Hand accepted this but prosecuted our client for compensation. 

Our client is reluctantly bringing this action to protect his reputation and his family in pursuit of justice and to ensure truth and transparency. 

During the trial, lawyers for Ms Hand alleged that Mr Lawrence made up his claims of having had consensual sex with her in the same hotel as Mr McGregor to undermine her and was a “fall guy” for her allegations. Mr Lawrence denied this.

This is just the latest turn in proceedings related to this trial, which has seen Ms Hand file a fresh court claim against Mr McGregor, along with two former neighbours, over evidence that was put forward as part of his appeal and then sensationally withdrawn as proceedings got underway.

The Court of Appeal also suggested it would refer the matter to the DPP.

Mr McGregor, meanwhile, is set to appear before a special sitting of Dublin City Council later this month as part of his attempts to secure a nomination to be the next president of Ireland.