A mother who spent nearly three years fighting for legislation against online bullying has said it is a “huge, huge bittersweet moment” to see it signed into law.

The President Michael D Higgins today signed ‘Coco’s Law’ into force.

The bill, otherwise known as the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill, has been named in honour of Nicole Fox, who died by suicide after suffering online abuse.

Seven-year-old Niamh Coventry, Godchild of Nicole Fox at a vigil outside the Dáil, 24-04-2018. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

This afternoon, her mother Jackie Fox told Newstalk that the new legislation marks “such a huge legacy for the little person she was.”

“It is a huge, huge bittersweet moment,” she said.

“It is what I have worked on; it is what I have wanted so much. I am delighted it has passed.

“I am delighted it is going to save so many people; it is going to help so many people. They have somewhere to go now to help them.

“It is huge that this is Nicole’s legacy and it is officially signed in today as Nicole’s legacy.”

Having considered the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017, President Higgins has today signed the Bill and it has accordingly become law.

— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) December 28, 2020

Ms Fox has been campaigning for the new law ever since her daughter’s death.

The last months of 2020 were largely dedicated to ensuring the legislation would officially be named after Nicole.

The bill, as signed by the President, includes an Explanatory Memorandum that reads:

'The content of this Bill is strongly influenced by persons who have lost their lives because of online abuse, in particular Nicole Fox. The Bill is in recognition of her mother’s determination to honour the memory of her daughter and to strengthen the law so that others can be safer. As a result, this Bill can be referred to as Coco’s Law.'

Ms Fox said the legislation will have a huge impact for others experiencing online abuse.

“It doesn’t change anything for me or my family,” she said. “We still don’t have Nicole so it is a really bittersweet moment but this is what I have been fighting for the last two years and ten months.

“I am in-between proud and guilty; happy and sad. I am in-between everything at the moment but it is brilliant that her memorandum is officially in the bill that I have in front of me here now – her memorandum.

“It doesn’t seem real that I don’t have to fight for it anymore as well. I don’t have to fight for the law; I don’t have to fight for her name. It is just very bittersweet.”

Jackie Fox Fenlon, whose daughter Nicole took her own life following years of online torment, 16-10-2018. Image: Cate McCurry/PA Archive/PA Images

She said the speed with which social media gained popularity over the past 15 years left the law behind, with nothing in place to help people who are vulnerable online.

“I think if I had of had this law in place, I could have had Nicole with me here today but because there was nothing there, the Gardaí’s hands were tied,” she said.

“There was nothing in place but now people can go to the Gardaí, they can collect all their evidence, they can bring it to court and they can get people charged.

“I am hoping - which I think they will - I am hoping the courts will make examples of people to let them know they are serious and they can’t continue destroying people’s lives the way they have – or even worse making someone feel like they can’t live past another day.”

Coco’s Law was drafted by Labour Party Justice Spokesperson Brendan Howlin.

It criminalises offences including online abuse, image-based sexual abuse and online stalking.

With reporting from Sarah-Jayne Tobin