Latest news with #Coco'sLaw
Sunday World
10-06-2025
- Sunday World
Teen (18) produced child pornography by sharing intimate images of girl (15), court told
As the female teenager was a minor at the time of the alleged offence, the man is also facing two charges under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act on November 15th 2022. A Clare teenager, just turned 18, posted a collage of intimate images of a 15 year old girl onto his Snapchat stories in a so-called Coco's Law prosecution, a court has heard. In the case before Kilrush District Court on Tuesday, the accused - now aged 20 - appeared in connection with being charged with three alleged offences over the posting of the intimate images in November 2022. Judge Alec Gabbett said that the case comes under Coco's Law, which is formally known as the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 which criminalises the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. In the case, the accused, aged 18 at the time, is charged with on November 15th 2022 publishing or distributing an intimate image of the female without her consent with the intention to cause her harm contrary to Section 2(1) and (3) of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2001. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday June 10 As the female teenager was a minor at the time of the alleged offence, the man is also facing two charges under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act on November 15th 2022. The man is accused of knowingly having in his possession child pornography, the image of the female aged under 17 which, the charge says, depicts her genitals on the date. The man - accompanied to court by his mother and a sister - is also charged with producing child pornography for the purpose of distribution, publication, exportation, sale or show contrary to Section 5(1) of the Child Trafficking Act and Pornography Act1998. In court, Garda Nadine Keane, now of Roxboro Garda Station, Limerick said it will be alleged that the accused had in his possession a collage of four intimate images of the female on November 15th 2022 and posted them to his online Snapchat stories on the same date. Garda Keane said that one of the images depicting the girl's genitalia was a Category Two image as categorised under the Child Trafficking Act and Pornography Act. Judge Gabbett said that Category One would be regarded as the most serious followed by Category Two. Garda Keane said that the images were left online for a number of hours before they were taken down by the man who allegedly posted them. He continued by saying that the female - who turned 18 earlier this year - made a statement of complaint to Gardai and was interviewed by specialist Garda interviewers. The Garda said that the case was investigated by the Clare Division Protective Services Unit based at Crusheen. Garda Keane said that when charged at Kilrush Garda Station on May 29th, the accused made no reply after caution. He added that the DPP has directed that the case be heard in the district court on a plea of guilty only. After hearing an outline of the facts, Judge Gabbett said that he was declining district court jurisdiction and the case will now be transferred to the circuit court where more serious penalties apply on conviction. Judge Gabbett said that he was declining jurisdiction due to the seriousness of the alleged offences, the categorisation of the images and that the case warrants consideration by the circuit court taking into account the impact on the alleged injured party. The judge said that if the accused was aged under 18 at the time, he would have kept the case in the district court. In the district court, penalties for the Coco's Law offence can be up to one year on prison on conviction and Sgt John Burke said that before the circuit court, a 14 year prison term can apply on conviction. Judge Gabbett remanded the man on continuing bail to appear at Kilrush District Court to July 15th. Judge Gabbett imposed reporting restrictions on the identity of the accused and the injured party due to the age of the injured party at the time of the alleged offences.
The Journal
28-05-2025
- The Journal
Public urged not to share images after four people fall victim to 'sextortion' last weekend
THE PSNI HAS issued a major warning after four people were targeted by online sexual blackmail in one day last weekend. Commonly known as 'sextortion', the blackmail involved threats made by an anonymous individual online to share a person's sexual images, clips or information. The nature of the sextortion can be predatory where the victim is coerced into sending more intimate pictures under the threat of sharing existing ones, or financial where the perpetrator threatens to share the images of the victim unless a ransom is paid. The PSNI says it received 70 reports of sextortion per month at its peak two years ago before falling to an average of 45 between last year and now. The warning comes after the force said it received four reports last Saturday, 24 May, alone from four men in the Belfast area who claimed to have been targeted. Advertisement Detective Inspector Karen Hamill explained how to identify the hallmarks of a sextortion attempt: 'Typically, a person uses a false identity to befriend a victim via social media. 'The exchange may start with flirting or flattery, but ends with the victim coaxed into sending intimate images or performing sexual acts online, unwittingly in front of a camera. 'Behind the fake and attractive guise, there's a criminal. These people are often part of sophisticated and organised crime groups, mostly based overseas. They extort their victims by threatening to share those images or recordings unless demands for money are met.' Detective Inspector Hamill said that the majority of victims are young men, aged between 18 and 23. She urges people to be on their guard and to always be aware of sharing intimate images online. She offered this advice: 'Don't panic; don't respond to demands; and don't enter into further communication. If you can, confide in a trusted friend or family member, and please contact officers immediately on 101.' In the South, sextortion is illegal under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, also known as 'Coco's Law', which came into effect in 2021. To date, An Garda Síochána has commenced 72 prosecutions related to 49 investigations under Coco's Law, with 82% of victims being male. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘It can destroy people's lives' – Sinn Féin's Nicole Ryan demands catfishing law reform
Corkman 'Catfishing is is calculated, predatory and it can destroy people's lives,' stated Senator Nicole Ryan who said that vulnerable people are being scammed out of thousands of euros and individuals have been left traumatised Catfishing occurs when an individual assumes a false identity online, often using stolen images or personal details, to deceive others into forming relationships, whether online or in person. Victims of catfishing can fall into two categories; those who are deceived into thinking they are in a relationship with a non-existent person, and secondly, individuals whose images and personal details are stolen to create fake online identities. Sinn Féin Senator Nicole Ryan said catfishing at its core is deception. 'Catfishing is when someone steals another person's images or identity to create a fake persona online often to trick, exploit or defraud others. While it began with a messaging or a dating app profile it frequently escalates to financial fraud and emotional manipulation. In some cases even coercive control.' 'This isn't harmless online behaviour,' said Ms Ryan. 'It is calculated, predatory and it can destroy peoples lives. We've seen headlines from high profile GAA players that have been impersonated, vulnerable people being scammed out of thousands of euros and individuals left traumatised after discovering a relationship that they believed was real actually never existed. But behind each headline is a human and some betrayed, humiliated and left sometimes to pick up the pieces.' The Cork politician appealed for standalone legislation to be enacted which would give more power to An Garda Síochána and the court system to tackle catfishing. 'There is already current legislation that covers some of these aspects through harassment laws, fraud legislation and Coco's Law. While these laws are welcome we can't ignore the fact that catfishing is a distinct and emerging form of harm. It doesn't just fit neatly into the current legislation that we have of victims who are sometimes left without the clear path to justice. 'We believe that there is a strong case here to have this as a standalone offence that sends a clear message that online deception is not just morally wrong, but also legally wrong. It would give An Garda Síochána and the courts the clarity that they need when investigating and prosecuting these offences and it would give victims that they do deserve,' she added.
Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Catfishing destroying people's lives and leaving individuals traumatised
Corkman 'Catfishing is is calculated, predatory and it can destroy people's lives,' stated Senator Nicole Ryan who said that vulnerable people are being scammed out of thousands of euros and individuals have been left traumatised Catfishing occurs when an individual assumes a false identity online, often using stolen images or personal details, to deceive others into forming relationships, whether online or in person. Victims of catfishing can fall into two categories; those who are deceived into thinking they are in a relationship with a non-existent person, and secondly, individuals whose images and personal details are stolen to create fake online identities. Sinn Féin Senator Nicole Ryan said catfishing at its core is deception. 'Catfishing is when someone steals another person's images or identity to create a fake persona online often to trick, exploit or defraud others. While it began with a messaging or a dating app profile it frequently escalates to financial fraud and emotional manipulation. In some cases even coercive control.' 'This isn't harmless online behaviour,' said Ms Ryan. 'It is calculated, predatory and it can destroy peoples lives. We've seen headlines from high profile GAA players that have been impersonated, vulnerable people being scammed out of thousands of euros and individuals left traumatised after discovering a relationship that they believed was real actually never existed. But behind each headline is a human and some betrayed, humiliated and left sometimes to pick up the pieces.' The Cork politician appealed for standalone legislation to be enacted which would give more power to An Garda Síochána and the court system to tackle catfishing. 'There is already current legislation that covers some of these aspects through harassment laws, fraud legislation and Coco's Law. While these laws are welcome we can't ignore the fact that catfishing is a distinct and emerging form of harm. It doesn't just fit neatly into the current legislation that we have of victims who are sometimes left without the clear path to justice. 'We believe that there is a strong case here to have this as a standalone offence that sends a clear message that online deception is not just morally wrong, but also legally wrong. It would give An Garda Síochána and the courts the clarity that they need when investigating and prosecuting these offences and it would give victims that they do deserve,' she added.
Extra.ie
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion details abusive relationship with ex partner
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion has urged anyone that knows someone who might be in a coercive relationship to not be judgemental but 'listen to them.' The 44-year-old politician detailed how she has come to terms with her own abusive relationship at the hands of her partner of six years, Sean Tyrell. Mr Tyrell was sentenced to four-months in jail for offences under Coco's Law against Ms Funchion. Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion has urged anyone that knows someone who might be in a coercive relationship to not be judgemental but 'listen to them.' Pic: Ireland AM/ Instagram Speaking on Ireland AM on Monday, the MEP told presenters Tommy Bowe and Muireann O'Connell how her relationship with Tyrell was 'dysfunctional at times.' 'Hindsight is hindsight for a reason,' she said, 'There was elements of control probably from very early on.' Ms Funchion added that the control can be 'hard to identify' as it is a gradual process which results in you doubting and questioning yourself. She added that it results in a 'huge amount of confidence' lost, which is what the abusive partner wants. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ireland AM (@irelandamvmtv) The MEP for Ireland South detailed how her ex-partner would question if she wasn't home by a certain time, a feat difficult for a politician who deals with the public. 'You're always trying to be ten steps ahead to think what kind of potential issue is happening here,' she detailed. 'I felt that I was always trying to find a solution as I really loved Sean, I really wanted this relationship to work. For me, this was it. I was determined to see how we could figure this out.' Ms Funchion detailed how her partner had been threatening to go to journalists with 'various stories' about her claiming that she was financially and physically abusive to him. Speaking on Ireland AM on Monday, the MEP told presenters Tommy Bowe and Muireann O'Connell how her relationship with Tyrell was 'dysfunctional at times.' Pic: Ireland AM/ Instagram 'I went to the Gardaí; I reached out to the Amber Women's Refuge as well,' the politician shared. She went on to give her praise to Gardaí and the protective services unit in Kilkenny who she branded as 'amazing' during the case. Speaking about writing her victim impact statement, she admitted it took her a 'very long time' to write it, adding that she was 'physically sick' in the lead up to having to read it out in court. 'It is very, very difficult for people,' she said, 'I've always had admiration for people who come forward but even more-so after going through it.' The Kilkenny woman added that she did feel 'physically lighter' following the case, but detailed there are still difficulties in her life following on from the relationship, such as letting people into her life. 'That is something that has changed for me,' she stated, 'But I am really glad that I did go all the way with it.'
