MEP Francis Fitzgerald has told of her “frightening” experiences of online abuse as she backs calls for anti-bullying legislation to be brought in across Europe.
The Fine Gael politician is backing calls for Coco’s Law – pioneered by Jackie Fox in memory of her daughter Nicole Fox Fenlon – to be enacted all 27 European member states.
Nicole, who was affectionately known as Coco to her family, took her own life in 2018 following years of cyber abuse and online death threats.
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The former Minister for Justice said she believes other countries will support a new anti-bullying law, which could be rolled out as early as next year.
She told the Sunday Mirror: “Clearly we need an EU law on cyber bullying which amazingly we do not have at present.
“I would be very hopeful that by next year we will have a cyber violence law. I think there is widespread support.
“You have laws to address cyber bullying in places like France and in Germany already and other states follow what is called the Budapest Convention but the legislation varies.”
Speaking of her own online abuse over the years, Ms Fitzgerald revealed how there were times she had to call in the gardai to investigate online threats.
She said: “In terms of my own experience I have had threats and have had to call in the guards a few times just to follow things up.
“I think there are very few public reps now who haven’t had some sort of threat or quite intimidating things said and of course over the course of my career I have incidents here and there.
“I think you can’t get too intimidated by it because you wouldn’t do your work but at the same time you can’t let your mind go there because it’s frightening.
“If it’s at a certain level you have to report it and the guards will investigate
“It’s becoming an increasing feature of being a public feature.”
Ms Fitzgerald praised Jackie Fox, who spoke earlier this week at the European Parliament. She said: “She’s absolutely amazing. I mean she was extraordinary in Brussels this week, people were very moved by her story.
“Stories like Jackie’s are going to help inform politicians. People were crying in parliament watching the video she made.”
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