Photo of Conor McGregor’s fiancée goes viral leaving court
There’s a photo circulating online of Conor McGregor exiting a courthouse after being found liable for sexual assault by a civil jury. But all anyone can look at is his long-suffering fiancée, Dee Devlin.
Nikita Hand accused the 36-year-old UFC world champion in the civil lawsuit of “brutally raping and battering” her after a Christmas night out in 2018.
The jury deliberated for six hours and 10 minutes before they returned with the verdict.
The Irish fighter claimed he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, 35, at the Beacon Hotel. After the verdict was announced, Ms Hand, 35, credited her daughter with giving her the “strength” to keep fighting.
“I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up, you have a voice and keep on fighting for justice,” she said.
Ms Hand was awarded $398,380.86 in damages. The standard required in civil law is the burden of proof is on the party making the claim.
McGregor was not accused of criminal wrongdoing or charged.
McGregor’s long-term partner, Ms Devlin, was seen supporting him outside the court case. As they exit, her face appears blank, but it is a hard image to look at.
The 37-year-old - who shares four children with McGregor and has been with him since 2008, well before he rose to prominence - stood by him, even when he admitted to cheating on her through a very public court case.
As the pair exited, while McGregor looked furious, Ms Devlin looked stricken with grief.
It is a difficult photo to look at, perhaps because the impacts of the court case feel so clear. While he is expressively enraged, she just looks exhausted.
It wouldn’t be shocking if the response to this image was vitriol being sent Ms Devlin’s way for standing by her man.
Often, the women who stand by men become societal punching bags. We tend to reserve our harshest judgments towards other women.
Sure, McGregor’s copping hate online, but there are also so many fans defending him, maybe because they believe the findings are wrong or, perhaps, even just because they hate seeing their hero called out.
Ms Devlin doesn’t have fans, though, at least not in the same way. She’s the partner who has stood by him, which means she’s more vulnerable.
All we know about her is her relationship with McGregor. She’s a mum and she was with him before his fame.
She’s stuck with him despite his infidelity.
Interestingly though, the reaction online is overwhelmingly filled with concern for Ms Devlin.
“Man you know that poor woman has been through it,” one commented.
“Man it’s sad. Poor woman, did everything right, was with him long before fame and has a sad story to tell in the end,” another commented.
“The humiliation on her face is really sad,” someone else claimed.
“Poor woman,” one said.
“Imagine embarrassing the mother of your children publicly for years,” another noted.
“She’s been with him since day one. I feel so bad for her. She was with Conor when he was a nobody,” another noted.
McGregor, meanwhile, has taken to X and said he will be “appealing” the verdict. He also shared that he was “disappointed” the jury did not hear all the evidence.
“I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you to all my support worldwide.”
The image seems so hard to look at that it has forced us all to worry, not just about, Ms Hand, but also about the woman still standing by McGregor.
