‘Beyond brave’: waves of support for Liveline guest Róisín who was a victim of revenge porn

Róisín tweeted about her experiences over the weekend, encouraging other victims not to be ashamed

A guest on Liveline has been praised for her ‘honesty and bravery’ in speaking out against revenge porn and slut shaming on yesterday’s show.

Róisín Nic Lochlainn was just 17 years old when she was filmed having sex by girls in her school. The video was shared with her classmates and around her local area, with some men even showing the video to her family members.

Last weekend, the hashtag #ibelieveher began trending again on Twitter, and Róisín joined with her story, saying “I’ll never truly be able to put into words how traumatising that part of my life was”.

When I was underage I had sex in public that I was too drunk to remember the next day and my friends had to tell me about it. Again, it was recorded. The girls at my school who recorded and distributed underage revenge porn are now on twitter liking tweets from #Ibelieveher.

— Róisín ? (@roisinnicloch) June 21, 2020

On Liveline, Róisín described to host Joe Duffy the effects of the video on her life. Róisín described how the video led to a breakdown of the relationship between her and her parents for almost a year, while her teachers at school failed to act to punish those responsible.

“I never got any justice, and I never got any apology, and that’s all I want,” Róisín said.

Support poured in for Róisín on social media following her interview on Liveline, as the conversation turned to slut-shaming and victim-blaming in Irish society.

Róisín on #liveline is beyond brave. Made a mistake but has been more severely judged than the boy with her. This has always been the way. Women put into Magdalene Laundries. Fathers who fathered their children got off free. She will make a superb VP of student's union in Galway.

— Lucy Keaveney (@Luighseach) June 23, 2020

Both the drunken underage sex in public and the recording and distribution of it by her classmates are both symptoms of a deep sickness in society, too long to get into in detail on a tweet, but save to say everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves.#liveline https://t.co/lhS7e5QXGT

— Emma Murphy (@EmmaMurphy12150) June 23, 2020

A must listen & unfortunately a story that is far too common. This needs to change. Something is inherently wrong with our education system when not all teenagers know that bullying like this is wrong. This girl’s bravery is profound & inspiring. #liveline https://t.co/mOaCvgr62J

— róisín (@r_smzy) June 23, 2020

A number of listeners also called into Liveline to support Róisín, praising her bravery in speaking about her experience. Róisín tweeted after the show that she hoped her story could ’empower other people to come forward…and to know that it wasn’t your fault’.

I never thought I'd be able to talk about my experience again, never mind on national radio on #liveline. I just hope that this empowers other people to come forward about their experiences and to know that it wasn't your fault. https://t.co/h1hRqkRKjC

— Róisín ? (@roisinnicloch) June 23, 2020

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