President signs ‘Coco’s Law’ into force
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Jackie Fox holding a framed photograph of her daughter Nicole ‘Coco’ Fox Fenlon who tragically passed away [/caption]
By Aideen O’Flaherty
PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins has signed into law the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 today (December 28), dubbed ‘Coco’s Law’ after a young Clondalkin woman who died by suicide.
The new law criminalises the recording, distribution or publication of intimate images without consent, and committing the offence can result in a penalty of an unlimited fine, or up to seven years imprisonment.
Dubbed ‘Coco’s Law’, the new law is the culmination of over two years of campaigning by Clondalkin mother Jackie Fox, after her 21-year-old daughter Nicole ‘Coco’ Fox Fenlon died by suicide on January 20, 2018, after she suffered three years of relentless bullying online and in person.
Since her daughter’s untimely death, Jackie has tirelessly campaigned for the change in the law in relation to online abuse, and she has also given talks in schools around the country about the dangers of online bullying.
Jackie, originally from Tallaght, previously told The Echo about the change she wanted to see in the law: “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).”
The bill was first introduced by Labour TD Brendan Howlin in 2017, and was recently brought over the line by Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, who said on social media that the bill being signed into law was “good news as we approach the end of 2020”.
Jackie maintains a bench in memory of her beloved daughter and in recent days got a new plaque put on it, inscribed with Nicole’s name, date of birth and the date of her passing, with the text: “Loved and missed so much, until we see you again, your legacy will live on forever (Coco’s Law)”.
