Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for revenge porn to be made a criminal offence in Ireland.

It comes after tens of thousands of images of women in Ireland were leaked online in recent days.

While some of the images were taken from websites like OnlyFans, it is believed the leak also includes many images that were shared privately.

The Victim's Alliance has said some of the images are of girls under the age of 18-years-old.

It said it is currently trying to contact the women involved and has sent files and links on to the Gardaí.

"Sexual abuse"

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre CEO Noeline Blackwell said sharing private images without consent is shocking.

“It constitutes sexual abuse that those images were shared in that online group in the first place,” she told Newstalk.

“Then, with the hacking of that online group or the leakage or whatever it was – there is now a concern that the transfer of those images is going to be much more widespread.”

Gardaí have said they are aware of the matter with the Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime currently investigating.

Petition

More than 26,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill to be signed into law.

The legislation brought forward by former Labour leader Brendan Howlin would introduce a jail sentence of up to seven years for the taking or sharing of intimate images without consent.

It would also criminalise online harassment, bullying and abuse.

Revenge porn

In a statement, Deputy Howlin said the online leak makes the passage of the legislation “even more urgent.”

“Women are too often the targets of online abuse, and this Bill will protect them against so-called 'revenge porn' by creating a new offence of distributing an intimate image without consent,” he said.

He said the legislation is due to go before Committee stag on December 1st and could be passed by the end of the year if it has the support of all parties.

“The appalling case of these leaked images clearly illustrates the urgent need for changes in the law and I’ve been seeking this for several years,” he said.

“Image based sexual abuse is a serious issue that is becoming more prevalent and must be adequately addressed with updated criminal law.

“Too many vulnerable people both young and old are affected by online harm bullying and harassment. That private intimate images of young people can be shared online is totally unacceptable.”

Cabinet approved the legislation in May, with then-Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan promising to progress it on a priority basis.

In September, Justice Minister Helen McEntee promised to enact it before the end of the year.