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A man and a woman have appeared before the Dublin District Court charged with committing perjury during former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor’s appeal against a civil High Court ruling that found he had raped Nikita Hand. Samantha O’Reilly, aged 38, and Stephen Cummins, aged 39, both resident at Cherry Orchard Green in Ballyfermot, Dublin, were arrested on Tuesday morning and formally charged in connection with statements executed at Lincoln Lane, Dublin 7, which prosecutors allege were known by both accused to be entirely untrue.
The morning arrests were carried out separately by detectives from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation following an ongoing inquiry into sworn materials submitted during the civil litigation. Detective Sergeant Maria Cassells told the court that Ms O’Reilly was detained at her residence at 9:40 am before being conveyed directly to Ballyfermot Garda Station, where two counts of perjury were formally put to her. She faces charges alleging the provision of false statements on 14 January and 6 May of last year. Detective Sergeant Cassells confirmed that the accused offered no reply after caution.
Moments later at 9:45 am, Detective Garda Padraig Hanley arrested Mr Cummins at an address in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot. He was taken to Ballyfermot Garda Station and charged with a single count of providing a false statement on 14 January of last year, to which he likewise made no reply. An Garda Síochána confirmed in court that there was no state objection to bail for either defendant, provided strict supervisory conditions were placed upon their release.
During the formal hearing before Judge Michele Finan, procedural matters were complicated by external industrial action affecting the legal sector. Ms O’Reilly addressed the bench directly, explaining that she remains unemployed and intended to secure representation through solicitor Tony Collier, who could not attend the sitting due to an ongoing nationwide solicitors’ strike. Daily Dazzling Dawn learned that Ms O’Reilly requested that the substantive proceedings be deferred until normal legal representation could resume.
Judge Finan granted bail to Ms O’Reilly on the strict condition that she sign on once weekly at Ballyfermot Garda Station between the hours of 9:00 am and 9:00 pm. Under the terms of the court order, Ms O’Reilly must remain contactable by mobile telephone at all times and is strictly prohibited from making any contact, directly or indirectly, with witnesses connected to the case. Her proceedings were adjourned for six weeks, with a scheduled return date of 9 November.
Mr Cummins likewise informed the court that he wished to be represented by Mr Collier. Following confirmation that he understood the operational bail conditions outlined by the bench, Judge Finan imposed daily reporting requirements, mandating that he sign on each day at Ballyfermot Garda Station. The court further ordered Mr Cummins to maintain round-the-clock telephone contact with investigating officers and ordered an identical prohibition against communicating with any witnesses in the proceedings. His case was also adjourned to 9 November.
The criminal charges arise from sworn documentation introduced during Conor McGregor’s appeal proceedings following a high-profile civil jury trial in 2024. In that civil action, Ms Nikita Hand successfully sued Mr McGregor for damages arising from a serious sexual assault at a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Following a protracted trial at the Four Courts, the civil jury found in favour of Ms Hand, awarding her substantial financial compensation and establishing civil liability against the fighter.
Subsequent efforts to challenge the civil verdict involved an appeal before the appellate courts, during which contested affidavits were submitted to support Mr McGregor’s attempt to reopen elements of the factual record. Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that the legitimacy of sworn witness statements tendered during those appellate applications became the subject of an independent investigation overseen by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
With both defendants now released on conditional bail, the prosecution file remains before the Director of Public Prosecutions ahead of the November return date, where further directions regarding the trial venue and the formal service of the book of evidence are expected to be addressed by the court.
