Nikita Hand set for damages after ex-neighbours in Conor McGregor appeal don't respond to lawsuit

The High Court heard Ms Hand’s case arose from the 'conduct' of Conor McGregor’s appeal

Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins had been due to give evidence in Conor McGregor’s appeal of a civil jury finding in favour of Nikita Hand (pictured), who sued the mixed martial arts fighter over alleged rape in a Dublin hotel. File picture: Niall Carson/PA

The High Court is set to assess damages owed to Nikita Hand by her former neighbours after they failed to respond to Hand’s claim for damages accusing them of abusing court processes.

Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins had been due to give evidence in Conor McGregor’s appeal of a civil jury finding in favour of Hand, who sued the mixed martial arts fighter over alleged rape in a Dublin hotel.

At the hearing of the MMA fighter’s Court of Appeal (CoA) challenge last July, an application to admit O’Reilly and Cummins’ sworn statements was dramatically withdrawn.

McGregor had claimed that fresh evidence provided by O’Reilly and Cummins bolstered his insistence he was not responsible for bruising on Ms Hand’s body following the hotel assault. Hand, in an affidavit, had strongly rejected her former neighbours’ evidence.

Shortly after the three-judge CoA unanimously dismissed the appeal, Hand filed a lawsuit seeking damages against McGregor, Cummins and O’Reilly for “malicious abuse” of court processes.

On Monday, Judge Emily Egan granted judgment to Hand in default of appearance against Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins. She placed a stay on the orders for four weeks.

In High Court actions, solicitors for a defendant must file an “appearance” within a set time period. McGregor’s solicitors, Mulholland Law, have entered an appearance in Hand’s case.

Siún Leonowicz, barrister for Hand instructed by Coleman Legal LLP, told the judge Hand’s case arose from the “conduct” of McGregor’s CoA appeal.

Leonowicz opened to the court documents showing proof of Hand’s lawyers’ service of the proceedings on Cummins and O’Reilly at their addresses last August. Counsel said Hand’s side had received no response from either defendant.

The documents show that Cummins and O’Reilly were served with court papers at an address in Cherry Orchard Green, Ballyfermot.

The judge granted an order for judgment in default of appearance against Cummins and O’Reilly, with the damages they owe to Hand to be assessed by a judge at a later date.

The judge placed a stay on the orders for four weeks, allowing the defendants time to make an application to set aside the orders.

In the affidavits filed in McGregor’s CoA appeal, Cummins and O’Reilly alleged that they witnessed a physical altercation between Hand and her then-partner Stephen Redmond on the night of December 9, 2018.

In an affidavit, Hand described her neighbours’ claims as lies and said Redmond never assaulted her that night or at any time during their relationship.

Following the CoA’s dismissal of the challenge, McGregor sought a further appeal to the Supreme Court. That court refused to hear McGregor’s appeal.