Women like the late Nicole ‘Coco’ Fox Fenlon from Dublin must be “protected from their tormentors,” the President of the European Parliament has said. 

Roberta Metsola was re-elected to the role today and made the statement to MEPs in Brussels when outlining her vision for the EU during this term.

“We must deliver a Europe where everyone feels at home, where girls like Coco from Ireland are protected from their tormentors,” she said.

Coco took her own life in 2021 following an onslaught of vicious online bullying.

The 21-year-old’s death sparked public outcry and resulted in legislation called Coco’s Law being enacted in 2021, which banned for the first time the sharing of intimate images without a person’s consent.

On The Hard Shoulder today, Nicole’s mother Jackie said she had no idea her daughter's death would be mentioned in Brussels today.

“Roberta and Manfred Weber and all the guys over there do keep in touch with me after I was over in Brussels and Strasbourg,” she said.

“But I didn’t know [Coco] was actually going to get mentioned today, so I was happy with that.”

Nicole, daughter of Jackie Fox. 22/01/2024. Image: Jackie Fox.

Jackie said she has been engaging with EU officials about Coco’s Law for some time.

“When I brought the law into Ireland that time, I got a message from the European Parliament in Brussels and they asked me to do a video about Nicole, Coco, and send it back to them,” she said.

“After I did that, they invited me over to speak. I said I didn’t think Coco’s Law should only be in Ireland, that it should be Europe-wide because it’s happening to so many people.

“So many people have lost their lives because of the likes of online bullying and the sharing of intimate images online.”

'Bittersweet'

Jackie said it was a “bittersweet moment” to hear her daughter’s name mentioned again.

“When Nicole died, I always said that I was going to make sure that she’s never forgotten,” she said.

“It is good that she has a legacy and they’re still keeping her name alive, but I would give it all away to have her back. To potentially also have her law in Europe is huge.”

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Main image: Roberta Metsola speaking at the EU parliament in Strasbourg. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo