Laura was Bullied, Harassed & Stalked
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Many of you might have heard Laura's online bullying and harassment story. A small group of friends have come together to show support, and this page has been created to assist Laura in paying the legal costs she has incurred.
Laura O'Connell, a lone parent, fell severely ill with a life-threatening condition six years ago, which ended her corporate career. The long two-year recovery meant she exhausted all her savings and became dependent on social welfare and St Vincent de Paul for help. During this period, she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease.
Two years later, to move forward in life, Laura became self-employed, determined to keep a roof over herself and her son’s heads despite all the challenges and obstacles she faced. However, just as Laura was establishing this new life, things took a turn for the worse. She became a victim of a stalker and was horrifically harassed and bullied, which severely stunted all her attempts to get back on her feet.
After four years of hell, her predator pleaded guilty in Cork Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years in prison with the final year suspended. During these horrendous and intolerable four years, Laura had nowhere to go for safety or protection because the laws and resources were just not there. The impact of her awful experience has affected not only her physical health but also her mental health. In addition to the ordeal, the lengthy-time spent with Gardaí, preparing evidence, and a plethora of court trips have caused Laura colossal disruption to her home, work and business, leaving her grossly out of pocket.
Unfortunately, during that time, things became so unbearable Laura was forced to seek an injunction. The Courts ordered her perpetrator to pay the costs, but to date, these costs remain unpaid and have led to a judgement being executed against Laura for legal fees totaling €26288,54.
Laura's resilience and strength understandably ran dry over the last four years. Bullying and harassment could happen to any of us, but this was a whole other level. There is nowhere for anyone to turn to until our laws and systems improve to protect the victim and put them first.
We urge you to rally around Laura and show your support by helping in any way you can, whether emotionally or financially. Let's help Laura to move forward with her life. One day, she hopes to campaign for more humane and better rights for victims of crime when she is back on her feet and in a stronger place. Let's help her in her quest to do this.
Link to Laura's Victim Impact Statement:
Organizer
Laura O'Connell
Organizer
County Cork
