A new chapter could be unfolding in the aftermath of Conor McGregor’s civil rape case, with a Garda investigation into Nikita Hands one-time neighbours, now approaching its conclusion. The couple had claimed they could provide evidence that might undermine Nikita Hand’s account, claims she had strongly denied.
The garda file into the alleged perjury includes a statement from a landlord contradicting the Dublin couple’s claims that they were living across the street from Ms Hand at the time she said she was raped by Conor McGregor.
Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins, from Ballyfermot, were arrested last September by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) for alleged perjury relating to Ms Hand’s civil case against the former UFC champion.
They were released without charge the next day and the garda probe continued.
In recent weeks, it has been announced that the public will soon get a behind the scenes account of the 2024 civil judgement, from Nikita Hand herself in a forthcoming book. Ms Hand and her partner Gary have shared news that they are expecting a baby this June.
Elsewhere in an unrelated case, Conor McGregor’s sister’s business has also come before Dublin courts. Aoife McGregor has been ordered to make a charity donation after her salon admitted selling a sunbed session to an underage girl.
A 16-year-old volunteer for the HSE paid for three minutes on a sunbed without being asked her age or to produce ID, a court has been told.
Dublin District Court was told the employee responsible had since been fired by the company, which took the public health regulations “very seriously”.
Adjourning the case, Judge Anthony Halpin ordered the salon to pay €500 to charity as well as another €1,000 in costs to the HSE.
Today on the Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by the Sunday Independent’s Ali Bracken and Court Reporter Andrew Phelan, to discuss the latest developments in both cases.