DUBLIN — On Tuesday, a woman took the stand in an Irish court, alleging that Conor McGregor sexually assaulted her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. This testimony marks the opening of a civil case in which she is seeking financial compensation from the mixed martial arts champion.

McGregor was present at the High Court in Dublin for the initiation of this trial, which is anticipated to span approximately two weeks. The incident in question occurred on December 9, 2018, with the civil suit being filed in 2021. Alongside McGregor, another individual, James Lawrence, faces allegations as a co-defendant.

A representative for McGregor has previously dismissed the claims, highlighting that investigations by the Irish police did not lead to any criminal charges being filed.

During her testimony in court, the woman revealed that she expressed discomfort about being left alone with McGregor in a hotel penthouse bedroom. “I attempted to explain my feelings to him, stating that I didn’t want to engage in any sexual activity and wasn’t there for that purpose,” she recounted regarding her interaction with McGregor. “He simply was not accepting my refusal.”

The woman’s attorney, John Gordon, pointed out that she and McGregor had familiarity with each other, having grown up in the same area, shared mutual friends, and interacted over social media throughout different times.

Also providing testimony on the first day of proceedings was Daniel Keane, a gynecologist and forensic examiner in cases of sexual assault. He recounted seeing the woman in the hospital the day after the alleged incident, noting that she was “shaking and crying” upon her arrival by ambulance. Keane described significant bruising on her body, stating that the degree of injury was “quite unusual.”

Legal representatives for McGregor are prepared to argue that any interaction between him and the woman was consensual; however, it remains uncertain when they will present this defense.