Nikita Hand pursued a civil rape case against mixed martial artist Conor McGregor despite facing significant obstacles, including the fact that Irish authorities had declined to prosecute the case criminally. Hand stated that she was motivated partly by a desire to challenge the perception that victims must be “perfect” to be believed or deserve support.
The assault allegedly occurred in 2018 at a Dublin hotel. Hand reported the incident to police and was examined at a sexual assault treatment unit, but prosecutors determined in 2020 that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges. McGregor denied wrongdoing throughout. Hand subsequently opted to pursue a civil case, aware that doing so would require her to forfeit anonymity and face cross-examination in a highly publicized trial.
The trial took place over two weeks in November 2024 at Dublin high court and attracted substantial media attention. The jury found that McGregor had assaulted Hand and awarded her damages of approximately €250,000. McGregor subsequently lost an appeal in July 2025. The case continued to generate public discourse, including criticism directed at a television appearance McGregor made in June on a late-night program.
Hand has now published a book titled “Not the Perfect Victim,” which details the assault and its consequences. She has indicated that writing the book allowed her to regain control of her narrative. Hand stated that while she continues to experience anxiety related to the events, she has received support from family and advocacy organizations. She expressed an interest in working with other survivors and victims going forward.
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