Not the Perfect Victim

<p><b>Shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2026</b><br><b><br>'A reclamation of voice, credibility and narrative power - and an immense act of courage' <i>Irish Times</i></b></p><p><b>'Nikita Hand's powerful telling of her trauma ... the narrative is gripping' </b><i><b>Irish Independent</b></i></p><p><b>'Compelling, searingly raw and gripping ... incredible, courageous'<i> RTÉ Guide</i></b></p><p><b>'A tale of survival, defiance and the hard-won rebuilding of a life' <i>Irish Country Magazine</i></b></p><p>December, 2018. The aftermath of a night of revelry. The promise of a party. And a journey into darkness that would change the course of Nikita Hand's life - as she endured a brutal assault where she believed she would die.</p><p>Here, Nikita tells her unforgettable story. From the bleak days that followed, reeling in shock and fear, to the long hours as she gave her Garda statement, trusting the truth would be enough. Then months holding her breath, only to discover there would be no prosecution.</p><p>When she took the decision that would define her future, Nikita Hand stepped into the glare of a civil case against one of the world's most powerful athletes, Conor McGregor. Through panic attacks, sleepless nights and a terrifying home invasion, she kept going. On into the courtroom, where she faced her perpetrator at arm's length - and spent four gruelling days in the witness box. The judgment would make headlines. The backlash would nearly break her.</p><p><i>Not the Perfect Victim</i> is the unforgettable story of a woman reclaiming her power - a first-hand account of survival, defiance and the hard-won rebuilding of a life no one could take from her.</p>