UFC superstar Conor McGregor finds himself on the periphery with respect to stepping back inside the Octagon. But now, the Dubliner is also facing alleged se**ual assault charges that threaten to eclipse his legacy. In 2018, a woman accused him of assaulting her in a hotel in Dublin. This issue, which previously seemed buried, has resurfaced today after three years of navigating the legal process under Irish law, coinciding with the commencement of the trial.

The actions were filed in the Dublin High Court in 2021 with the complainant opting to pursue civil action, suing the former two-weight world champion for civil assault and seeking damages. According to the latest update, Conor McGregor, along with another defendant, James Lawrence, has arrived at the Dublin High Court for the commencement of the lawsuit.

While starting the trial today, the presiding judge, Justice Alexander Owens, stated, “Essentially, the allegation in the statement of claim is that Mr. McGregor sexually assaulted Ms. Ni Laimhin and, in effect, r-ped her on December 9, 2018. Mr. Lawrence did likewise.”

In his High Court appearance, McGregor arrived with his father, Tony McGregor, while dressed in a navy suit. To ensure the swift disposal of the lawsuit, Justice Owens appointed a jury to handle the case, which is expected to conclude within two weeks. The jury consists of eight women and four men, and several strict instructions have been imposed by the High Court, including a prohibition on leaking any information online.

With this latest setback in his life, Conor McGregor’s fans and the MMA community now appear concerned, particularly those who had anticipated the Irishman’s return to the UFC, which is rumored to be early next year. However, one thing is certain: the Dubliner will likely bounce back from this controversy, just as he has overcome previous legal challenges throughout his career.

Conor McGregor’s “legal” troubles: A brief overview

Conor McGregor is one of the few in the combat sports world who rose quickly to prominence but has struggled to stay grounded while navigating fame. His career spans not only mixed martial arts (MMA) but also ventures into boxing, Hollywood, and instances of legal turmoil, including charges of altercations and property damage.

It all began with the infamous bus attack at the UFC 223 media day. After Conor’s friend Artem Lobov was slapped by Khabib Nurmagomedov in a heated moment, McGregor showed up at the media day venue, attacking the fighter bus and others with a steel dolly. Several fighters including Micheal Chiesa and Roy Borg sustained injuries and were even pulled off from the PPV card. The Irishman later fled the scene but turned himself in to the Brooklyn police, where he was charged with criminal mischief and three misdemeanor counts of assault. He was released on bail.

However, McGregor’s legal troubles did not end there. He has faced several s-xual assault cases, including five instances, one of which occurred in the United States during the NBA Finals in 2023. In one of these cases, the charges were later dropped. Now, all eyes are on the High Court of Dublin and the jury of 12 as they deliberate Conor McGregor’s future. Will this impact his ambitions to return to the octagon, or will he find a way to move past it? Stay tuned for further updates.