Councillor backs mum’s cyberbullying law call

A SOUTHSIDE councillor is to raise the issue of cyberbullying at the May meeting of South Dublin County Council on behalf of a heartbroken Clondalkin mother whose daughter took her own life this year. 

Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind) has put forward a motion for this month’s meeting, asking that the council commit to writing to the Minister of State at the Department of Health to introduce a new law, ‘Coco’s Law’, that would make cyberbullying a criminal offence.

It is named for a young Southside girl, Nicole Fox (21), known affectionately by her family as ‘Coco’, who took her own life in January this year after years of threats and abuse on social media.

Her devastated mum, Jackie Fox, marched to the Dáil recently with hundreds of supporters, to try and raise awareness of  the need for Coco’s Law. 

“What I’m looking to do is implement a new law and name it after Nicole,” Jackie explained.

“We want to try and bring in Coco’s Law where it will be an offence to threaten someone so much that they can take their own life. We’re trying to make people accountable for their actions where they can be charged with threatening and bullying people online.

“Nicole was physically and verbally and mentally abused. The physical aspect, yes, you can put charges against them for that, it is against the law.

“But she was threatened so much on social media, threatened to be put on a life support machine which she ended up on, threatened to be beaten up… they got into group chats and they were saying everything about her.

“But that’s not enough evidence. You can say anything about anyone you want, and threaten them, but it is not enough evidence to bring a charge against them.”

It was in May 2016 when Nicole first tried to take her own life. She was brought to a mental health service but despite the attempted overdose, Jackie was told there was nothing to worry about.

“The bullies actually bragged about it all over the nightclub,” Jackie revealed.

“She went to the mental health service and they said that Nicole didn’t have mental health issues; that she wasn’t depressed, and that she didn’t need medication.

“They said it was just a phase she was going through, and that we’d just have to get on with it. There was no follow up.”

Jackie explained that Coco’s Law is not just for their daughter and other young adults, but for the thousands of children who have fallen victim to cyberbullies. 

“Suicide is getting bigger and bigger and more common,” Jackie stressed. “This isn’t just for teenagers; there are kids younger than eight or who are being bullied by children themselves

 “It has to stop. There are more people taking their lives.

“There are people out there now who are self-harming because they’re being targeted online.

“They’re being threatened, put down and made feel like they’re worthless.”

Jackie described the support from the local community as “brilliant” and was gratified to see the Coco’s Law message getting extensive media coverage.

One local councillor who is supporting Coco’s Law is Francis Timmons, who recently met with Jackie and her family.

“I support the family in calling for immediate legislation that will make bullying a criminal offence,” Cllr Timmons said.

“No person should have to endure this behaviour; there must be laws to protect people against the bullies,” he said.

“People who use online social media to attack and bully others must face consequences for their actions.”

On May 26, ‘A Night for Coco’ will take place in the Postal Sports & Social Club in Tallaght to raise money for Nicole’s family.