Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor wants to introduce new evidence in his appeal against the verdict of a jury in a civil court, that he raped hairdresser Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel more than six years ago.
Ms Hand sued Mr McGregor for damages in the high court over an incident in the Beacon Hotel in Sandyford in December 2018.
The jury found that he raped her and awarded her just under €250,000 in damages.
The jury found Mr McGregor's friend, James Lawrence, who claimed he had consensual sex with Ms Hand later on the same day, did not assault her.
Mr McGregor is appealing against the verdict.
Mr Lawrence is appealing against the High Court’s decision not to award him his costs.
The court had heard his legal fees were being paid by Mr McGregor.
Both men’s appeals came before the Court of Appeal for the first time today.
Ms Hand’s Senior Counsel, Ray Boland, said all sides had agreed the appeals should be heard together and would take about two days.
He told the court one of the grounds of appeal put forward by Mr McGregor related to alleged fresh evidence.
The court heard Mr McGregor’s side have served two new affidavits on Ms Hand’s side but the content of the alleged new material was not specified in court.
Mr McGregor’s Senior Counsel, Remy Farrell, has previously told the High Court other grounds in the appeal would include the judge’s ruling allowing the jury to hear that Mr McGregor replied no comment to more than 100 questions in garda interviews.
He said another ground would relate to the question put to the jury, asking only whether or not Mr McGregor had "assaulted" Ms Hand and not specifying sexual assault.
Mr Farrell was accompanied in the Court of Appeal by Junior Counsel Shelley Horan and by a King's Counsel, Mark Mullholland, who is based in Belfast.
Appeal court judge, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, said it was "one thing to say" there was going to be fresh evidence, but it would be a matter for the Court of Appeal to decide whether or not to grant leave for it to be introduced.
He said the appellant would have to satisfy the court that the evidence was indeed new and that it was credible.
The judge said such a motion would have to be heard in advance of any appeal.
The case will be back in court on 2 May when a date for the application to be heard is likely to be set.
In January, the High Court judge, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, ordered Mr McGregor to pay most of the costs of the civil proceedings, estimated at €1.3m.
He granted a stay on the award and the costs on condition that Mr McGregor pay out €100,000 of the award and pay €200,000 in costs immediately.
The Court of Appeal also heard today that that had been done.
