A woman who has accused Conor McGregor of rape has told a court that he choked her three times, leading her to believe that she was going to die. Nikita Hand is taking civil action against McGregor and another man in relation to an alleged sex attack in 2018.

The alleged incident involving McGregor was said to have taken place in a Dublin hotel room. McGregor denies the allegations and his lawyers told an earlier hearing that Hand was attempting extortion.

On the second day of giving evidence before the High Court in Dublin, Hand stated that she ‘froze and couldn’t move or breathe’ during the alleged attack. She was visibly shaking as she spoke and the court was repeatedly adjourned so that she could take breaks.

The court heard that, on the night of the alleged rape, McGregor collected Hand and another friend in a chauffered car to go to a party. They arrived at a penthouse suite in the Beacon Hotel with a group which included McGregor and his security team.

Hand recalled telling McGregor that she was not there for sex and that she had a boyfriend. She claimed that McGregor placed her in a chokehold and choked her three times, leaving her with bruising and soreness in her neck.

The former hair colourist told the court: “He pinned me down on the bed. I held my hands to my chest, he put his body weight on top of me.”

Hand told the court that she defended herself by biting McGregor, who then flipped around and grabbed her by the neck and shoulders. She alleged that at this point, she froze and began fearing that she was going to die.

“I couldn’t move,” said Hand, who does not have an inherent right to anonymity. “I was staring at the bed post thinking about my daughter, thinking I was going to die. I thought I’d never see my daughter again.”

After this, Hand alleged that McGregor let her go and she apologised to him to ‘reassure’ him so that he would not hurt her again. 

She told the court that McGregor said: “That’s how I felt in the octagon and I had to tap myself out three times.”

Hand added: “I thought it was such a weird thing to say. I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone anything. I just let him do whatever he needed to do so I could survive. I wasn’t myself anymore.”

She alleged that  McGregor then pulled her clothes off and raped her. Hand told the court that after the alleged attack, she fell asleep on the bed in the hotel room and discovered the bruises on her body when she woke up.

McGregor denies the allegations. The trial continues.