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The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has released an operational review of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, also known as Coco’s Law, revealing that almost 100 cases have been prosecuted since the law took effect.
Enacted in 2021, this legislation criminalises the sharing or threatening to share intimate images without a person’s consent, with or without intent to cause harm. It also introduces new offences around distributing, publishing, or sending threatening or grossly offensive communications, expanding the reach of harassment laws.
Minister McEntee commented:
“Sharing an intimate image of someone without their consent is an abhorrent form of sexual abuse and a serious crime. This legislation was needed given the prevalence of this crime, and the penalties – up to seven years in prison and an unlimited fine – are high to reflect the seriousness of the offences and the damage and hurt they cause.”
The review conducted by the Department of Justice shows the legislation’s impact, with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) taking a total of 99 cases in connection with sections 2, 3, or 4 of the Act between its commencement and the end of 2023. This included:
- 23 cases prosecuted on indictment in the Circuit Court
- Eight cases consented to summary disposal on a guilty plea by the DPP
- 68 cases directed to summary disposal
- One case prosecuted on indictment in the Central Criminal Court
The review also highlighted that charges issued by An Garda Síochána have risen significantly from 22 in 2021 to 113 by the end of 2023.
Awareness campaigns have played a crucial role in educating the public about Coco’s Law. Independent research indicated a dramatic increase in awareness of the legislation, with knowledge that sharing intimate images without consent is illegal rising from 69% in August 2021 to 97% in November 2023.
Minister McEntee stated:
“Making people aware of this legislation was – and continues to be – a major focus for us, and our awareness campaigns on intimate image abuse have been successful. I know that An Garda Síochána anticipates that the numbers of prosecutions will continue to rise as further reports are received and criminal investigations then progress.”
The Department of Justice’s partnership with Hotline.ie has also proven effective in providing a reporting mechanism for victims of intimate image abuse. Between September 2021 and December 2023, almost 1,500 reports were made, with 92% of illegal content successfully removed.
The Minister encouraged anyone who has been a victim of intimate image abuse to report it directly to the Gardaí or through Hotline.ie.
Coco’s Law, named after Nicole ‘Coco’ Fox, was enacted on 10 February 2021, and further details of the Act are available on the Irish Statute Book website.
The Act can be accessed here: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020
The review is available at: Department of Justice Review