Councillors open up about online bullying
By Sean Heffernan
TWO councillors opened up about the affect bullying had on them, during a debate on ‘Coco’s Law’ at the monthly council meeting recently.
The motion was put forward by Independent Councillor Francis Timmons, who spoke of the heartbreak the family of Nicole Fox Fenlon have faced ever since their daughter took her own life after being bullied.
Jackie Fox holding a photograph of her daughter Nicole
It was passed unanimously, with all councillors present supporting it.
Jackie Fox has campaigned tirelessly for the adoption of ‘Coco’s Law”, which seeks to make online bullying a criminal offence.
Independents for Change Cllr Ruth Nolan recounted her own experience of being bullied, telling the chamber: “I remember when I was a kid a couple of people bullied me, I let them away with it initially but then it was dealt with, and thankfully it didn’t happen again.”
She backed the proposed law saying, “I fully support this motion, it’s heartbreaking when you hear these things, and hear it so often, it seems like its become part of life, this cycle of bullying.”
She added, “Society in general should make it known that young people engaging in such behaviour is not acceptable, and it should never be accepted.”
Sinn Fein Cllr Brendan Fearon describe Nicole’s passing as a “terrible tragedy”, and commended her mother for the presentation she recently made to TD’s in Dail Eireann.
The Tallaght Central representative opened up about an intense bullying campaign one individual waged against him and other SF councillors.
“A lot of people have been subjected to online bullying, for about six months I was subjected, along with the other Sinn Fein councillors, to a long period of the most vile disgusting stuff.”
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He called on the Government to urgently take action adding “It’s happening everywhere, and something has to be done to stop it”.
His party colleague Cllr Mark Ward said that, “In the past you might have got bullied at school, but when you got home you had a break from it; now it is happening 24/7.”
Cllr Dermot Looney, who is also a primary school teacher struck a note of caution, he said, “We have to ensure we think very carefully as to what laws we bring in, as there could be unintended consequences if it is not done properly.”
People Before Profit Cllr Madeleine Johansson also expressed some concerns in her contribution “This is a really tragic story, but I have some reservations at legislation that would make this a criminal offence”, as this would relate a lot to people Under-18.
The representative for Clondalkin said there was an urgent need for schools to educate children as to the dangers of bullying others online.
Despite her reservations, Ms Johansson said she supported the motion.
The convener of the motion, Francis Timmins spoke about Nicole’s Mother showing him messages from her phone describing them as “horrendous”, and revealed, “The last message she sent was to her Mother, and it said ‘I love you’ with a heart emoji after it.”
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