Conor McGregor ‘strongly advised’ to take break away from Ireland

Last month, Nikita Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a case at the High Court in Dublin.

Ms. Hand sought damages for assault, rape against McGregor and his friend James Lawrence. A jury found she had been assaulted by Mr. McGregor but not by Mr. Lawrence. The jury awarded damages of €248,603 against Mr. McGregor.

In the days following the civil action verdict, major retailers across the UK and Ireland stopped selling alcoholic drinks associated with McGregor.

Other endorsement deals, like ones with popular video games manufacturer, IO Interactive, were also quick to drop the MMA star after the defeat in court.

"Let’s be clear Conor isn’t exactly the type to run from a fight. But this is the fight of his life," said a source close to the fighter.

"The news cycle here is constant, whereas in somewhere like America it’s not really a big story and he can have space to retain and regroup," the person said.

"But — and here’s the big but — it’s doomed if he stays and damned if he goes. So that’s the tough choice he has to make. For his own sake and his family."

McGregor at the High Court.

The commercial backlash against McGregor has already seen a number of businesses cut ties with him in the wake of the court case.

The likes of Musgrave, Tesco, and the BWG Group quickly cut ties with him after the result of the court case.

In a statement, a spokesman for Musgrave said: "Musgrave can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network."

The network includes SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak and Mace.

It is understood that other retail outlets including Costcutter and Carry Out will also stop stocking products linked to Mr. McGregor.

Backlash

It’s not just in Ireland, the UK’s largest independent drinks retailer, LWC Drinks revealed that it ‘does not want to be associated’ with him.

In a statement released to MailOnline, it said that it will be joining the growing industry-wide shunning of Conor McGregor-affiliated drinks, including Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey and Forged stout.

Supplying over 15,000 UK businesses with their alcohol products, the announcement from LWC comes as the latest in a spate of recent blows to the Irish fighter’s commercial brand.

The decision to cease its sale of, and association with, both Proper 12 Irish Whiskey and Forged Irish Stout comes after McGregor lost his civil rape case against Nikita Hand in Irish court last month.

That the fallout has spread to other regions has come as a ‘massive blow’ to McGregor.

"It’s relentless. And the backlash isn’t showing any sign of leveling out. If anything it’s gathering pace," explained the source.

In a scathing statement shared with MailOnline, LWC drinks said that it does not want to be "associated" with the former two-division UFC champion and his stout product.

Fallout

The statement in full read: "In light of Friday’s civil court ruling against Conor McGregor, LWC, the UK’s largest independent drinks wholesaler has taken the necessary legal steps to terminate its agreement to distribute Forged Irish Stout.

"We are consulting with our customers to support them in the replacement of Forged draught taps. LWC does not want to be associated with Conor McGregor or Forged Irish Stout."

LWC decision to dump McGregor’s drinks brand came just days after UK food delivery severe Ocado and supermarket chains Tesco and Asda followed in Irish retailers’ decision to remove his brand and affiliated products from their shelves.

Additionally, the Irish branch of prominent pub chain JD Wetherspoon announced last week that they too would be removing Conor McGregor’s affiliated alcoholic beverages from their pubs in Ireland.

"This isn’t a fight he can win at this press moment. So at this stage, it’s best to keep the head down and get his head together and that simply isn’t an option in Ireland where it’s the biggest news story in a very small town. So getting out of dodge is really the best option, all things considered."

On Thursday (December 5) the High Court, will hold a hearing on legal costs for the civil case taken by Ms. Hand.

Conor McGregor in 2023. (Getty Images)

The case had been due to be heard on Thursday, November 28 but Mr. Justice Alexander Owens agreed to delay it by one week.

The losing side pays their own legal costs and those of the successful party. The court has the discretion to depart from this general rule if persuaded that the justice of the case requires this and there are special circumstances.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.