Daughter of murdered Jeffrey Hannan, 19, in plea for justice

SEVENTEEN years on from the murder of Jeffrey Hannan, his daughter Nikita, 18 - who was just a baby when her father was killed - speaks about the impact of the loss and not having her dad to walk her down the isle.

“I'm engaged now. I'm happy. I'm living with my father's death every day of the week but I'm trying to keep strong for him and for me and for my family,” said Nikita. The teenager got engaged on her 18th birthday this year, on October 29, when her fiance surprised her by getting down on one knee as she was touching up her makeup.

Despite this exciting step forward, Nikita said: “Your dad's meant to give you away, and then you're meant to have your dad and daughter dance. I'm sure people do that... That's what's gonna kill me.”

Jeffrey was 19 years old - one year older than Nikita is now - when his body was found on November 22, 2007 at approximately 10:40am in O’Malley Park, Southill, Limerick. He suffered multiple injuries to his head and upper body. “I have pictures, I have his name tattooed, that's how I kind of know he's there with me. I have his name tattooed onto my hand since I'm 15 so he comes everywhere with me.”

Looking ahead to the festive season when people are usually joyful, Nikita explained what a typical Christmas Day is like for her. "I'll get up and I'll drink and I'll keep drinking until Christmas is over because I can't sit there.”

Nikita was raised by her grandparents and found it difficult growing up without her dad. She recalled going to a park with her grandmother and seeing other children being pushed on the swings by their parents. “It was just hard that I couldn't have that.”

She also recalled other children's fascination with the material side of Christmas during her childhood and told them: "It's not about what you have at Christmas, it's about who you have. I said, 'do you know what I would give to have what you have at home'?”

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She added that her father is in the grave and that he should be with his family. “He didn't get a chance in life,” she remarked.

Nikita said Jeffery had a “heart of gold” and that he didn't deserve to be killed. He enjoyed listening to clubland music, particularly Timbaland's 'The Way I Are' which Jeffrey sang to Nikita when she was a baby.

Nikita has suffered quite badly with her mental health in the past and has found life tough without her dad. She said she was “really low” and that her mental health was very bad in her teens. She was diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety and explained that she's been “doubly grieving” all her life.

“I've come so far, and I didn't think I'd be able. When you're in that mindset, you don't think you'll be able to get out of it.

“It's like you're trapped and you're in a bubble and are trying to get out of that bubble, and no one can hear you screaming... I turned my life around,” she said.

She stated that it would bring her a sense of “relief” and “a lot of peace” to get justice for her dad and family and to know that the person who killed Jeffrey isn't “just walking free” like they have been.

“The fact that he got murdered and I have to go to look at the newspapers and see him... and, obviously, my granddad was on Crime Call, like, I was often on the radio myself a few times when I was younger.” She said her grandmother will die “heartbroken” if they don't get justice.

Gardaí are renewing their appeal for information on Jeffrey's murder. The investigation is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer from the Roxboro Road garda station.