Conor McGregor’s drinks brands ‘will be BOYCOTTED’ by Irish retail giant – after UFC star loses civil sexual assault case

Conor McGregor will reportedly have his drinks brands boycotted by Irish food wholesaler Musgrave after he lost his civil sexual assault case.

McGregor, 36, faced an accusation that he ‘brutally raped and battered’ Nikita Hand, 35, at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018.

The MMA fighter previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, at the Beacon Hotel. He denied causing bruising to the plaintiff.

However, a jury at Dublin’s High Court found that McGregor did assault her and he was told he must pay the victim €250,000 (£207,805) in damages.

McGregor subsequently vowed to appeal the decision, claiming he was ‘disappointed’ and ‘focused on my future’. 

However, there has been a kickback towards the MMA star since the verdict, with video game developer IO Interactive becoming the first sponsor to cease its collaboration with him.

The Irishman, 36, (pictured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2019) launched Proper No Twelve Irish Whiskey (pictured bottom left in the bottle) back in September 2018

McGregor also then launched Forged Irish Stout, which is brewed in Ireland, in July 2021

And now, according to The Currency, Irish retail giant Musgrave has informed the operators of its stores that it is ‘deslisting drinks associated’ with McGregor.

Musgrave is Ireland’s leading food retail company and has more than 1,000 stores across the country.

The report claims that the company did not provide an explanation but simply posted a notice that said: ‘All product (of McGregor’s) is being delisted’.

McGregor-endorsed drinks include his ‘Proper No Twelve Irish Whiskey’ and ‘Forged Irish Stout’, while he also owns the Black Forge Inn in Dublin.

The 36-year-old launched Proper No Twelve in September 2018, with McGregor naming it after the Crumlin neighbourhood in Dublin 12, which is where he grew up. 

Forged Irish Stout – which is brewed in Ireland – was then launched in July 2021. 

Meanwhile, breaking his silence on Friday afternoon after the verdict, McGregor said: ‘I will be appealing today’s decision. The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages.

‘I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you to all my support worldwide.’

The MMA fighter previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand (not pictured)

After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdicts in the trial and awarded Ms Hand €250,000 (£207,805).

McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable of assaulting her.

Ms Hand cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters as the verdict was delivered.

Outside the court, she described the last two weeks as a ‘nightmare’ but said she felt vindicated.