Jackie’s tireless campaigning pays off as Coco’s Law finally enacted
THE commencement order for Coco’s Law, the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, which honours the legacy of the late Nicole Fox, was signed on Safer Internet Day last week.
An online webinar saw Justice Minister Helen McEntee sign for the enactment of the law, which creates two new offences that criminalise the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.
The first offence deals with the distribution or publication of intimate images without consent and with intent to cause harm, with penalties applicable including an unlimited fine and/or seven years imprisonment.
The second offence deals with the taking, distribution or publication of intimate images without consent even if there is no specific intent to cause harm, and this offence will carry a maximum penalty of a €5,000 fine and/or 12 months imprisonment.
During the webinar, Minister McEntee introduced Jackie Fox, a mother living in Courtown who has campaigned for Coco’s Law for over three years following the untimely death of her daughter in January 2018, and thanked her for her campaigning.
She said that this year marked the eighteenth Safer Internet Day but that online harm does not have any borders, and so international bodies must work together to prevent it on every level.
The message of the day was ‘Be kind online’ and focused on personal behaviour, encouraging people of all ages to act in the same way online as they would out in the world to create a safe and positive space.
‘Coco’s Law represents a big step forward in tackling harassment and harmful communications. I am honoured to pay tribute to the memory of Nicole Fox, and to the selfless efforts of her mother, Jackie, who has tirelessly campaigned to raise awareness about the harmful effects of online abuse and to make our laws stronger in this area,’ the Minister said.
‘ This legislation will not only provide an effective tool to bring to justice those who use technology to harm others, but it will also send a clear message that as a society the sharing, or threat to share, an intimate image of another person without their consent is not acceptable in any circumstance’.
Speaking at the webinar, Jackie Fox said that it was a huge day for her and her family and that she was very grateful.
‘ Today is the day I feel I can start to move forward a little in my life, after achieving three years of painful campaigning for a law to make victims of online abuse safer. It’s also a huge legacy for my beautiful daughter, a legacy known as Coco’s Law in her memorandum and the Irish
Statue Book.
‘I often wondered if this law had been in years ago, would I still have my baby girl with me today? But now others have the protection Nicole never had and it’s their chance to use it. It’s time to stop trolls destroying other peoples’ lives the way they destroyed ours’.
Jackie said that she hoped Nicole was proud of her for never giving up, and making her name live on forever.
‘I want to thank Minister Helen McEntee, Brendan Howlin, March for Justice Ireland, Finbar Market and many more who assisted in making this day happen. Now the guards and the courts must make examples of these people, to deter others from thinking they will get away with their cowardly actions.
‘I will never stop loving or missing Nicole until the day I die, but until then I want to continue to make a huge impact on peoples’ lives through education in schools and colleges. Although I will never see Nicole’s smile, hear her laugh or her beautiful voice or feel her hugs, both Nicole and the words in her memorandum will live on in my heart forever’. Following this, Labour’s Brendan Howlin spoke about how Coco’s Law will have a lasting impact for generations to come, and praised both Jackie and other parents who got involved in the campaign. ‘It has been more than three years on the journey of getting this particular law enacted and I want to thank all of the people involved, particularly the campaigners and the families who have suffered harassment, bullying, intimidation or who have had their most private images of themselves shared without their permission. From the moment that Minister McEntee signed the commencement order, that is now a criminal offence. We have a robust law to protect all of our people to protect ourselves from the most terrible damage that was done to so many, so often in private that they felt they couldn’t talk about the suffering that people endured and are continuing to endure.
‘Our online public space should be as protected as any public space, you should be as free to go online as you would be to walk down a street or into a public park without fear of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
‘We as legislators now have a legal framework, and that in many ways sets the parameters of activity but we need to tell people about that and bring about cultural change, so that people who seem to be somehow immune to the an impact that they have on others because they’re in their own home or online, that this is somehow not as damaging as striking a blow at someone. In many instances, it’s much more painful.
‘I look forward to the cultural changes that this will bring about changes in behaviour through education so that everybody can be safe’.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne, described the development as an important milestone on the road to safer internet.
‘I would like to thank Jackie Fox for sharing her daughter Nicole’s story in a bid to make people understand the harm that online abuse can cause and today’s signing of the commencement order for Coco’s Law is a testament to the power of that story.
‘ This new legislation will ban harassment online, ban the sharing of intimate images online – revenge porn, and ultimately protect young people using digital platforms. The internet has become an extension of who we are by necessity in many cases. We are now spending more time than ever online, this includes younger people, and it is important we learn early how to use the internet for good and to protect children from the unsavoury elements of the digital world’.
REGARDED as perhaps one of the most formative and vital periods in Irish History, we are currently in the midst of marking the centenary of the events of the War of Independence (1919 - 1921). Local archaeologist Barry Lacey from Ferns has been looking at some of the key events in Co Wexford, in particular ambushes, raids, the burning of police barracks and other activities.
On this occasion, Barry looks at the shooting of a former British soldier just outside where the current Enniscorthy Guardian office is situated in Slaney Place, 100 years ago. For more stories like this one, visit wexfordwarofindependence.com
In late 1920, the IRA in Enniscorthy became suspicious of possible informers operating within the town after three of their men were arrested over a short period of time. It was decided to send a warning to two individuals whom they suspected of being spies, named Foley and Newsome. The latter, Fredrick Newsome, had previously served in the British army. He was 21 years old and lived at number 7 John Street with his parents,
One night, both men were standing at ‘Coffey’s Corner’ in the Market Square when they were approached by several IRA men. Newsome was escorted a few doors down Slaney Street and given a stern warning that if he continued to inform he would be shot. While this was happening a patrol of RIC police and black and tans was making their way up from the bottom of Slaney Street. This caught the IRA men by surprise and Newsome used the opportunity to run and escape. As he fled his captors, they took aim with their revolvers and fired, but fortunately for Newsome they missed and he made good his escape. Meanwhile the police patrol upon hearing the commotion fired upon the IRA, and a gunfight ensued. After a brief exchange the police retreated under gunfire and the IRA made their escape down Castle Hill. They headed to the mental asylum where they hid in the laundry room for the night. Newsome later informed on his attackers and their houses were subsequently raided.
Following on from this incident Newsome was tried in his absence by an IRA court-martial on the charge of being a spy. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. John Carroll in his witness statement to the bureau of military history states that he received orders from his Brigade officer commanding to execute Newsome. Carroll, together with another man named John Lacey, would carry out the sentence the on the February 8, 1921.
On that particular evening, Fredrick Newsome, accompanied by a friend named Maurice Waters, were making their way back into town after an evening stroll out past Templeshannon way. They were making their way back over the old bridge and rounding the corner along Slaney Place when Lacey and Carroll, who had been awaiting Newsome’s arrival, shot him twice. After this both shooters casually made their escape up Slaney Street. It was reported that after the first shot one of them remarked ‘put another one in him (Newsome)’. Although Newsome was shot he managed to raise himself back onto his feet and attempted to make his way towards the police barracks, on the opposite end of the Abbey Square. He could be heard shouting in agony ‘Murder’ and ‘Help’ as he struggled to reach the barracks.
Waters ran ahead to seek help. Along the way he met two individuals, whom he asked for assistance in getting a doctor and priest. Surprisingly they refused to do so, perhaps in fear of what might happen to them if they interfered in a local IRA operation. Eventually the police heard the commotion outside and saw Newsome attempting to make his way across the abbey square before collapsing on the ground. Both himself and his friend were brought inside the barracks. Newsome was then transferred to the towns workhouse to receive further medical attention, but his wounds were beyond any help which the doctors could offer and he died just before 5 a.m. the following morning, the February 9, 1921.
Newsome’s funeral took place the following day, February 10, 1921. The military gave notice to shopkeepers and other business in the town to shut as a mark of respect. He was buried in St. Johns graveyard, often referred to as Carrig graveyard, located just south of Enniscorthy town on the western side of the Slaney River. His father was later awarded £150 compensation with £4 towards expenses.
In enquiries that followed afterwards, Maurice Waters wrongly identified a Thomas Roche of Templeshannon ( Who had taken part in the previous attempt on Newsome’s life) as one of the gunmen. A month later though Roche would be involved in the killing of the Skelton brothers near Bunclody.
HE COULD BE HEARD SHOUTING ‘MURDER’ AND ‘HELP’ AS HE STRUGGLED TO REACH THE BARRACKS