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PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins has signed new legislation criminalising the distribution of intimate images without consent into law.
The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 covers a wide range of offences, including online abuse, cyberbullying, and image-based abuse.
It has come to be referred to as Coco’s Law after Nicole ‘Coco’ Fox Fenlon, who took her own life in 2018 after a period of prolonged abuse online.
It will provide for two new offences dealing with the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.
The first offence will deal with the taking, distribution, publication or threat to distribute intimate images without consent, and with intent to cause harm to the victim. It will carry a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine and/or 7 years’ imprisonment.
The second offence deals with the taking, distribution or publication of intimate images without consent without a requirement that the person intended to cause harm to the victim. It will carry an offence of a maximum penalty of a €5,000 fine and/or 12 months’ imprisonment.
Existing laws will also be updated in the area of harassment, broadening the scope of the offence of harassment to cover all forms of persistent communications about a person. The most serious forms of harassment will now be punishable with seven to ten years in prison.
President Higgins signed the bill today and it has accordingly become law.
The bill had cross party support and made its way quickly through the Oireachtas in recent weeks.
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With reporting by Sean Murray
How about decriminalising that low-risk medicinal herb now lads?
@JusticeForJoe: low risk….so risky
@Cosmos20202020: yes risky, just like driving a car is, or cycling a bike. Do we start banning them too? Also much lower risk than that of alcohol and tobacco, which people can enjoy without restrictions. The argument for decriminalisation/legalising strongly outweighs the counter argument of prohibition.
@Bobby: yes I’m no fan of weed myself but taking up police and court and prison time for weed smokers was always ludicrous. It’s legal now for recreational use in 15 states in the US and they are reaping huge tax dividends from that. Those dividends are currently going straight to organised crime in jurisdictions and countries such as Ireland where it is illegal.
@Sean: Exactly, this in my opinion is the biggest advantage. Massive tax revenue could be created, instead of handing money over to an underground market that destroy many lives in Ireland with reckless killings.
Illicit drugs will always be consumed by people, no point putting this money in the hands of criminals. Use it to invest in rehabilitation services, education etc
When it’s signed it’s an Act not a Bill.
@Cosmos20202020: I don’t think the article is saying anything differently?
@Cosmos20202020: is it an act or a bill whilst in the process of actually being signed? Seeing as we are getting into pedantics and completely ignoring the main point of the article.
@Cosmos20202020: Could be a beak??
@Fr. Fintan Stack: it first reports it has been signed then continues referring to it as a bill.
@D Mems: a Bict….or in today’s world whatever it wants to.identify as.
@Cosmos20202020: …. It never refers to it being a bill after being signed. The last paragraph refers to the history of the bill. Read the article.
A good piece of legislation but why can’t this speed of implementation be seen more often
He’s doing a wonderful tough job
@Ps Tnov: Excellent joke.
Where has he been through this whole pandemic???
The government are making a mess of it surely he can do something….
@Eddie Michael: like what?
@Eddie Michael: Cocooning along with the rest of the 70 somethings.
@Eddie Michael: he can’t get involved, not his job, that’s like saying the queen of England should get involved in the uk, their both head of state, they have no place in government legislation or making their own laws,
Working abuse , is any law related to it
The nightmare of golem ) Higgins in his birthday suit ahhh
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