Conor McGregor launches defamation fight against Sky news. Conor McGregor has officially begun legal proceedings against Sky News after the news outlet defamed him during an encounter.
According to court documents filed in Ireland, McGregor claims the reporter shouted at him, “you are a rapist,” as he was leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, an accusation McGregor strongly denies and describes as deeply damaging to his reputation.
On Thursday, a judge in Ireland granted McGregor permission to serve Sky News after an alleged altercation took place outside a courthouse back in 2024. Numerous outlets including RTE. The confrontation happened shortly after a jury ruled that McGregor was liable in a civil case involving allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman named Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in 2018. Although McGregor was never charged criminally, Hand brought the matter to civil court. The jury ultimately ruled in Hand’s favor, finding McGregor liable for sexual assault and ordering him to pay £206,000 ($271,742.84) in damages, in addition to covering her legal costs.
McGregor maintains that the accusation has had a significant impact on his public image and business ventures. His lawyers emphasised that the reporter’s alleged statement was not only defamatory but also delivered knowingly, without any factual basis or ongoing legal case to justify it. McGregor’s attorneys stated that the reportedly alleged approached McGregor and said “Excuse me, Mr. McGregor, you are a rapist, have you any reaction or apology to the woman at the center of this?’”
Because Irish law allows only one year to file a defamation claim, the deadline was approaching quickly, prompting the court appearance on Thursday. The judge confirmed that the necessary documents would be submitted by Friday so the case could officially proceed. This lawsuit adds to McGregor’s ongoing legal troubles. After being found liable in the civil case involving the 2018 sexual assault allegation, he attempted to appeal the decision but the courts rejected his appeal. Now, McGregor is turning his attention to the media, pursuing legal action against the Irish news outlet for defamation.
With the defamation case now moving forward, McGregor stands at a crucial intersection in both his public and legal life. The coming months will determine how these new claims unfold and what impact they may have on his already complicated legal history.
