Conor McGregor has confirmed he plans to appeal last week’s High Court decision in the case taken against him by Nikita Hand.

It comes as hundreds of people last night joined a rally in solidarity with Ms Hand in Dublin.

Organised by the Rosa Socialist Movement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the rally saw protesters marching from City Hall to the offices of the DPP.

Organisers said they were protesting against the DPP’s decision not to bring criminal charges against Mr McGregor and are calling for an overhaul of the Irish criminal justice system.

Women at a protest outside City Hall to the DPP office over the handling of the Nikita Hand/ Conor McGregor case. Photo: Leon Farrell/© RollingNews.ie. 25/11/2024 Dublin Ireland.

Ms Hand last week won her civil case against Mr McGregor after accusing him of assaulting her in a Dublin hotel in 2018.

In her civil action for damages, she claimed he raped her at the Beacon Hotel.

Mr McGregor denied her claim and told the court they had “athletic” and “fully-consensual sex”.

In a statement on X last night, Mr McGregor again said he planned to appeal the High Court decision.

"People want to hear from me, I needed time," he said in the online statement.

"I know I made mistakes.

"Six years ago, I should have never responded to her outreaches.

"I should have shut the party down."

"As much as I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual and all the witnesses present swore to that under oath. I have instructed my legal team to appeal the decision," he continued.

People want to hear from me, I needed time. I know I made mistakes. Six years ago, I should have never responded to her outreaches. I should have shut the party down. I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. That’s all on me.

As much as I…

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 25, 2024

Delivering its verdict last week, the High Court jury ruled that Mr McGregor must pay Ms Hand €248,603.60 in damages.

Ms Hand had also accused another man, James Lawrence of Rafter’s Road in Drimnagh, of attacking her on the same night.

Ms Hand lost her case against Mr Lawrence.

Later this week, the court will this consider the matter of costs relating to the case.

Yesterday, Mr McGregor lost his first brand deal following the case.

Gaming company IO Interactive said it is pulling all Mr McGregor’s content from its storefronts, saying it takes the court ruling very seriously and can't ignore its implications.

With reporting by Stephanie Rohan.