09-08-2025
Gardaí launch criminal probe into perjury allegations in Conor McGregor rape case
Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins were to give new evidence that was said to undermined Nikita Hand, but it was dramatically withdrawn on the morning they were due to testify
Gardaí have launched a criminal investigation into allegations of perjury against a couple who were to be star witnesses in Conor McGregor's failed appeal of Nikita Hand's successful civil rape case.
Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, from Ballyfermot, were to give new evidence at the mixed martial arts fighter's appeal hearing last month but their evidence was dramatically withdrawn on the morning they were due to testify.
The couple's sworn statements were referred by the Court of Appeal to the Director of Public Prosecutions, after Ms Hand's legal team raised concerns about perjury, and the 'subornation of perjury' by McGregor.
The National Bureau of Criminal Investigations is believed to have received correspondence from the Director of Public Prosecutions in recent weeks.
Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins
A statement from the Garda press office said: 'Following correspondence from the DPP relating to a recent court case, the Garda National Bureau of Crime Investigation (GNBCI) is carrying out an investigation. A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed.'
A well-placed security source confirmed that gardaí attached to NBCI intend to try to initially reach out to the couple to speak to them informally in connection with the perjury investigation.
Lodging a false affidavit is an offence under the Perjury Act 2021 and this is what the probe is centring on.
Anyone who makes a sworn statement that is false, and knows it to be false, is committing an act of perjury, an offence that carries a minimum penalty of €4,000 and 12 months in prison, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a €100,000 fine.
Conor McGregor. Photo: PA
News in 90 seconds - 10th August 2025
The source continued that detectives from NBCI will 'most likely' attempt to speak to McGregor and his legal team as part of its investigation into the matter.
The garda investigation into affidavits sworn by Ms O'Reilly, a carer, and Mr Cummins, a plumber, is a serious escalation in a protracted legal battle.
Ms Hand, a mother-of-one, successfully sued former UFC champion McGregor in the High Court.
Nikita Hand. Photo: Collins Courts
She accused McGregor of raping her in the penthouse of the Beacon Hotel in Dublin on December 9, 2018.
McGregor (36) denied rape, claiming they had consensual 'vigorous' sex.
A civil jury found that he had assaulted Ms Hand and awarded her €248,603 in damages and €1.3m in legal costs. McGregor immediately launched an appeal.
The Court of Appeal heard how Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins came forward after seeing reports on TV about the trial.
They claimed they were living across the street from Ms Hand and had seen her in a row with her then partner on the night of the alleged rape by McGregor.
The couple swore statements for McGregor's legal team, alleging that Ms Hand was assaulted by her then partner, Stephen Redmond, hours after she was allegedly raped by McGregor at the Beacon.
Ms O'Reilly claimed she witnessed a 'heated row' from an upstairs bedroom room window of her home. Ms Hand was on the ground, she claimed, and Mr Redmond was moving his limbs as though he was punching and kicking her.
Their evidence had the potential to undermine Ms Hand's claim that her injuries were caused by McGregor.
Ms Hand insisted the couple's claims were lies. The couple have denied they told mistruths.
The couple were due to be cross-examined by Ms Hand's legal team, after which the three judges of the Court of Appeal would decide whether their evidence was admissible.
They were unexpectedly stood down as witnesses on the morning they were due to testify.
Ms Hand's senior counsel John Gordon raised concerns about perjury and the 'subornation of perjury' against McGregor. He provided the documents he intended to use in his cross-examination of Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins to the judges of the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal judges decided to refer the papers to the DPP.
The documents include the affidavits both witnesses swore for the appeal, as well as the new material that Ms Hand's legal team intended to put to Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins during their cross-examination, had both not pulled out.
McGregor's appeal continued without the couple and was ultimately dismissed by the Court of Appeal late last month.
Ms Hand is now suing McGregor, Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins for damages.
