Conor McGregor’s lawyer last night claimed a sex assault allegation against him was an attempt to swindle cash from the MMA star.
“This is no more than a shakedown,” Mr McGregor’s US lawyer Barbara R. Llanes said. She was speaking after US celebrity news site TMZ published a video of Mr McGregor appearing to walk hand in hand with the woman who has now alleged the Dubliner sexually assaulted her in a men’s toilet in Florida last week.
TMZ has confirmed the woman in the video is the female who has made the allegation — and the footage was shot at the time of the alleged incident in Miami last Friday night. The video emerged on TMZ less than 24 hours after the woman claimed she was forced into the toilet where she alleges the attack took place — but the video appears to show her walking in with the MMA star.
Now Mr McGregor’s legal team has accused the woman, who has made a formal complaint to cops in Miami, of trying to carry out a shakedown — or swindle cash from him.
Read more: Conor McGregor denies claims he sexually assaulted woman inside men's bathroom at basketball game
The video appears to show McGregor — who has denied attacking the woman — walking with her into a men’s toilets in a basketball arena in Miami last week. The woman had claimed she had been forced into the bathroom.
The MMA man’s lawyer last night said the woman had now changed her story and claimed she just wanted money off Mr McGregor. Ms Llanes said: “After the video was released by TMZ, the claimant’s lawyer now has changed her story.
“Mr. McGregor welcomes the investigation, which he firmly believes will show the claims against him are false.
“After not responding to the demand for money made by claimant’s counsel, she turned to the media to apply pressure. This is no more than a shakedown.”
McGregor has angrily denied claims he subjected a woman to a violent sexual assault in a men’s toilet in America. On Thursday evening, McGregor’s legal team said: “The allegations are false. Mr McGregor will not be intimidated.”
The woman who says he assaulted her in Miami last week has now lodged a report with police and has also sent legal letters to Mr McGregor, the American NBA and the Miami Heat basketball team — at whose game the alleged attack happened.
The woman says she was attacked in the Kesaya Center in Miami — after a basketball game between Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets last friday night. Mr McGregor was a high-profile guest and went on to the court to pretend to knock out the Miami Heat’s mascot.
The woman’s lawyer Ariel Mitchell now says that she did not remember who led her into the toilets until she saw the TMZ video. The woman says in her legal letters Mr McGregor emerged from a disabled toilet and started kissing her.
She says she managed to fend him off by claiming to need to go to the toilet — but then alleges he forced her to perform a sex act on him. She also alleges that he tried to carry out a serious sexual assault on her.
The woman says in her documentation that she managed to escape by repeatedly elbowing him — something that gave her enough room to flee the toilet. The woman says she reported the incident to police the following Sunday — but an officer suggested she get a lawyer.
But she has now lodged a formal complaint with the police and handed detectives an item of clothing that she says has Mr McGregor’s DNA on it. The Miami Police Department has confirmed it is investigating an alleged sexual assault.
The force said in a statement: “MPD’s Special Victims Unit is investigating a report that was filed Sunday, June 11, 2023. This is an open investigation so no additional information can be released at this time.”
A statement from the Miami Heat said: “We are aware of the allegations and are conducting a full investigation.”
UFC said it would “allow the legal process to play out” before making any additional comments. In a statement, the organisation said: “The organisation is aware of the recent allegations regarding Conor McGregor and will continue to gather additional details regarding the incident."
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