An Garda Síochána Launches Coco's Law Lesson for Secondary Schools

An Garda Síochána has launched a new Garda Schools Programme lesson dedicated to Coco's Law, developed in partnership with Webwise and now available to be delivered in secondary schools nationwide.

The lesson was officially launched today at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, by Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton TD, Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement Catharina Gunne, and Jackie Fox, mother of Nicole 'Coco' Fox.

The lesson covers the legislation known as Coco's Law, specifically the offences of sending threatening or offensive communications and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. It is designed to help students recognise these offences, understand their legal accountability for digital actions, and facilitate discussion around respectful relationships and consent. The lesson aligns to the Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum and was developed alongside a supporting Webwise SPHE classroom lesson.

Since the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 came into force, An Garda Síochána has recorded over 1,860 Harmful Communication incidents. Between 1 January 2023 and 28 February 2026, over 400 charges and summons have been initiated for offences under the Act. In that same period, Gardaí recorded 552 incidents of distributing grossly offensive communications to cause harm, 1,140 incidents of distributing, publishing, or recording intimate images, and 175 incidents of recording intimate images causing interference or alarm.

Minister Naughton said:

"Student online wellbeing and safety remains a central priority for the Department. This new lesson, developed by Webwise in partnership with An Garda Síochána, reflects our ongoing commitment to equipping young people with the knowledge and understanding they need to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

Importantly, the programme not only raises awareness of the legal consequences of inappropriate behaviour online, but also empowers students to make respectful, informed choices and to seek support when they need it.

I also want to pay tribute to Coco, whose experience has had a profound and lasting impact on this work. Both she, and her family, have helped shape a stronger, more informed response, and continues to guide how we educate and protect young people in this area."

Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne stated:

"Given that most young people now carry a smart device, this lesson isn't just about explaining the law; it's about empowering students to be independent and safe.

We are moving beyond 'internet safety' as a concept and into the reality of legal responsibility. We want to protect students from exploitation and ensure they understand that every click and share has a real-life consequence."

Detective Superintendent Sinéad Greene from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau said:

"The inclusion of this lesson in the Garda Schools programme is timely and will help to educate young people to understand the dangers of sending threatening or offensive communications, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

At the Online Child Exploitation Unit, we see first-hand how exposure to graphic or child sexual abuse material (CSAM) can have profound and lasting impacts on young people's mental health. Empowering young people with knowledge is one of the strongest protective tools we have. When they understand what illegal content looks like, why it is harmful, and how to respond, they are in a stronger position to keep themselves and others safe."

Jane McGarrigle, National Coordinator at Webwise, said:

"As online harms continue to evolve, it is vital that young people understand their rights and responsibilities online, the legal framework and where to get help if something goes wrong online. This new lesson comes at a critical time for schools as they respond to new challenges posed by emerging technologies."

The lesson is a direct response to the campaigning of Jackie Fox, whose daughter Nicole 'Coco' Fox tragically died by suicide in 2018 following relentless online harassment. Jackie Fox's advocacy led to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.

Ms. Fox stated:

"Nicole's legacy is now written into the law of this land, but its true power lies in education. Seeing this lesson enter schools means that other families might be spared the heartbreak we endured. This is about teaching our children that their online actions have real-world weight."

Anyone affected by threatening or offensive communications or the sharing of intimate images can report the matter confidentially at any Garda station or by phone. An online reporting facility is also available through the Irish Internet Hotline, which allows victims to report intimate image abuse to Gardaí while simultaneously requesting content removal.

In November 2025, a new digital platform, Help4U, developed by Europol and CENTRIC, was launched to support children and teenagers facing sexual abuse or online harm. Further information is available at help4u-project.eu.

Advice for parents of children and juveniles sharing images is available at garda.ie.