‘It’s so hard, just crying every day’
By Maurice Garvey
GONE but not forgotten, young Nicole ‘Coco’ Fox Fenlon (21), who was bullied to suicide 12 months ago, is set to appear on leaflets with every new mobile phone bought through Eir.
The communications company are including a leaflet on the dangers of cyber bullying, and aim to launch it for Safer Internet Day 2019 on February 5.
Jackie Fox, holding a photo of her daughter Nicole, is campaigning for Coco's Law
Nicole’s mother Jackie Fox, who has campaigned tirelessly to bring in ‘Cocos Law’ and protect vulnerable people by making online bullying a crime, was one of the key stakeholders who worked with Eir for the initiative.
“I was in a meeting with Eir today (Wednesday, January 16) and picked one of the three samples they showed us,” said Jackie.
“I think it is effective. There will be tips for kids and parents in the leaflet. Eir are training their staff in this area and have really got on board.”
Sunday, January 20, marked the one-year anniversary of Nicole’s tragic passing.
Jackie continued: “It’s so hard, just crying every day. The 18th is Friday, when we found her, the 19th is the hospital and the 20th she passed away. It still seems so raw.”
Jackie and her teenage son Lee returned to their Clondalkin home that fateful day, to find Nicole in the hallway.
Nicole suffered three relentless years of bullying at the hands of a group of girls, including intimidation and physical assaults at nightclubs.
Upon discovering gardai were powerless to take any action, Jackie vowed to make changes to national legislation, in an effort to protect other vulnerable people from abuse.
Remarkably, she has made huge progress over the last year.
After she protested outside the Dáil in April and made a presentation inside government buildings in May, the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill is currently making its way through the Oireachtas.
“It went through the second stage and will come in probably at the end of 2019,” said Jackie.
“It just has to go back to a detective, who wants to ensure it is watertight before it is passed in the Seanad.”
Originally from Tallaght, Jackie said the new law could result in fines or imprisonment.
“It is not about criminalising young people for a mistake, but for persistent and never-ending abuse. It also covers intimate photos between a boyfriend and girlfriend (that end up in the public domain).”
Asked about her journey over the last 12 months, Jackie feels it “put me on a different path.”
“I didn’t think I’d end up doing this. I gave a talk to kids at Clondalkin Youthreach and it went really well, some of them sent me messages afterwards. I also linked up with suicide prevention group Hope in Tallaght village, having a cup of tea and a chat with people while they wait to get help.”
Jackie and her family will have a quiet ceremony at home to mark the one year anniversary, but with Nicole set to feature in the Eir initiative, an upcoming book on mental health, and a documentary by Gerard Walsh (telling the story of Coco’s Law), her legacy will live on.
“She’d be fuming to be in the limelight,” said Jackie.
“I’d rather not do any of this and have her back but something had to change. There was no way I was going to let it go.”
