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14th Jan 2025

Nikita Hand faces relentless trolling over CCTV injunction – When will it stop?

Kat O'Connor

Nikita Hand said the footage was ‘very hard to watch’

Nikita Hand is seeking an injunction to stop Conor McGregor from releasing CCTV footage from the night he sexually assaulted her at a Dublin hotel in 2018.

Hand’s lawyers confirmed the injunction will stop the MMA fighter from publishing or disseminating CCTV footage.

The footage was shown in court during Hand and McGregor’s trial and viewed by jurors multiple times.

According to RTÉ, the footage shows Nikita Hand, Conor McGregor, and their friends at the Beacon Hotel on December 9th, 2018.

In November, McGregor was found guilty of sexually assaulting Ms. Hand.

The MMA fighter has threatened to release CCTV footage from the night in question. ⁠

During the trial, Hand told the court that the footage was incredibly hard to watch.

According to reports, she said all she sees on screen is an incredibly vulnerable woman.

The public has been rallying around Ms. Hand since the news broke. Many have stressed that she has been through enough following the trial.

Going public with her story took an immense amount of strength and courage. Hand faced waves of hate from vile online trolls but kept fighting for justice, not only for her but for victims who have been in her shoes before.

Speaking about all Ms. Hand has done for sexual assault victims, Natasha O’Brien told Her.ie:

“The whole of Ireland and the world held their breath as we watched Nikita bravely and courageously fight for justice.

“We are all so proud of her. I am absolutely in awe of that woman and her courage,” she shared.

“But this is not real justice. Real justice would be watching McGregor in a criminal court and him put behind bars,” O’Brien stated.

Hand has been viciously trolled online with many targeting her after news broke about the injunction.

McGregor was found guilty yet people continue to torment Hand and claim she is lying about the trauma she faced.

Trolls flood articles about her with hateful messages, but many don’t realise the knock-on effect their remarks can have.

Other victims will be less likely to come forward when they see the hoards of people targeting Hand.

Hand has done so much to help fellow victims and deserves peace after all she has been through. The last thing any victim needs is to relive the night of their assault over with the public watching on.

The 24-hour Rape Crisis Centre National Helpline 1800 778888 provides free, confidential, and non-judgmental support after sexual violence at any time.

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