TLDR
- Samantha O’Reilly and Steven Cummins face perjury charges for allegedly false statements in McGregor’s appeal case
- McGregor’s legal team withdrew their affidavits during the July 2025 appeal hearing before they could testify
- Both witnesses could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted under Ireland’s perjury law
- Jose Aldo believes McGregor should return at lightweight and could quickly compete for the UFC title
- McGregor underwent ACL surgery in August 2026 and is targeting a summer 2027 return to the UFC
Sources: yardbarker.com | sherdog.com | mmasucka.com
Two witnesses who provided evidence supporting Conor McGregor‘s failed appeal in a civil case now face criminal perjury charges in Ireland. Samantha O’Reilly, 38, and Steven Cummins, 39, appeared before Dublin District Court on Tuesday.
The charges stem from allegedly false statements made in affidavits connected to McGregor’s 2025 appeal against a civil judgment. The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation opened the case after evidence was submitted during the proceedings.
O’Reilly and Cummins were presented as former neighbors of Nikita Hand, who won a civil case against McGregor in November 2024. The jury awarded Hand $281,729 in damages related to a December 2018 incident.
O’Reilly claimed in her affidavit that she witnessed a physical altercation between Hand and her then-boyfriend from inside her home. Hand denied the incident ever happened and called the claims lies.
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McGregor’s Legal Team Withdrew the Evidence
McGregor’s lawyers initially tried to use the affidavits as fresh evidence in his appeal. They argued the statements could explain bruising found on Hand’s body.
But when the appeal hearing began in July 2025, McGregor’s legal team suddenly withdrew the affidavits. The Court of Appeal had been ready to hear the new evidence before the lawyers pulled the application.
Justice Brian O’Moore called the withdrawal “mysterious” at the time. In September 2025, the Court of Appeal referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions for possible perjury charges.
The charges are being brought under Ireland’s Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021. O’Reilly faces two counts while Cummins faces one count.
The case will proceed on indictment, meaning it will eventually go to the Circuit Court for a jury trial. If convicted, both witnesses could face up to 10 years in prison.
O’Reilly and Cummins are scheduled to return to Dublin District Court on November 9. Prosecutors are expected to serve their books of evidence and request an order sending the case forward for trial.
Hand has also filed a separate civil lawsuit against McGregor, O’Reilly, and Cummins. She accuses them of malicious abuse of the court process.
In February 2026, the High Court entered judgment against O’Reilly and Cummins after they failed to respond to Hand’s proceedings. The amount of damages they may have to pay has not yet been determined.
Jose Aldo Believes McGregor Can Win UFC Gold Again
Meanwhile, McGregor’s former rival Jose Aldo has offered encouragement for the fighter’s UFC return. Aldo famously lost to McGregor in just 13 seconds at UFC 194 in December 2015.
Despite their contentious history, Aldo told MMA Fighting he hopes McGregor can return successfully. He believes the Irish fighter should compete at lightweight rather than welterweight.
“I think first he needs to go through some dietary re-education to see if he can get back down and be lighter again,” Aldo said. “I think, in my opinion, he has the frame for 155.”
Aldo thinks McGregor could quickly work his way into title contention at lightweight. “Today, if Conor fights at 155 and beats a name, the division is wide open again,” he added.
McGregor injured his knee in the opening seconds of his rematch against Max Holloway at UFC 329 in July. He damaged his ACL and meniscus and underwent surgery in August.
The Irishman is targeting a return in the summer of 2027 for what would be the final bout of his UFC contract. McGregor has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
“I am an innocent man,” McGregor said in July. “I’ll stand for my innocence until the day I go out.”
McGregor appealed the November 2024 civil case verdict, but the Court of Appeals unanimously rejected his appeal in July 2025. He then tried to take the case to the Supreme Court, but that appeal was also refused in December 2025.
