My experience over the past year highlights why digital reform and stronger protections against online abuse are urgently needed.

Last July I was rushed by ambulance from Tralee to one of Ireland’s Supra Regional Endometriosis Clinics during a serious medical episode. Because my case was complex, I was advised to seek specialist care abroad.

Despite having health insurance, post-Brexit barriers meant the London clinic I first contacted required £25,000 upfront before treatment could even begin. Like many patients placed in impossible circumstances, I launched a crowdfunding appeal simply to try access the specialist care I needed.

Instead of collective compassion and support, I experienced public shaming, targeted online abuse and even a boycott of my work for speaking openly about my health and medical journey.

This was not a new experience.

Targeted harassment towards me has been occurring for many years, both online and offline. In May 2017 I received an anonymous letter sent to my work - an incident I have spoken about publicly and documented in an episode of my podcast.

Over time the behaviour has evolved into anonymous online posts, WhatsApp group chats and private communications being shared publicly without consent, with individuals questioning my illness and credibility while I was navigating serious health challenges.

The psychological impact of this type of targeted abuse cannot be underestimated. For survivors of trauma, including gender-based violence, sustained harassment compounds existing trauma and can significantly impact mental health, safety and wellbeing.

During my search for specialist medical care I travelled to Romania for scans, but the consultation was not trauma-informed and the examination retraumatised me as a survivor of gender-based violence and sexual abuse.

Recently I attended a consultation in London through ESAIS - the Endometriosis Surgical and Assessment Implementation Scheme, a pathway created through decades of advocacy by patients and campaigners. For the first time in many years I experienced truly trauma-informed specialist care.

While progress is being made in healthcare systems, our digital spaces remain dangerously unregulated when it comes to protecting individuals from targeted harassment, defamation and the reckless sharing of private communications.

No patient should have to crowdfund access to medical care.

No survivor should be retraumatised by systems lacking trauma-informed practice.

And no individual should face years of targeted abuse - online or offline - simply for speaking publicly about their lived experiences.

Why Digital Reform Matters

Ireland must introduce stronger protections against anonymous online abuse, clearer accountability for the sharing of private communications, and meaningful enforcement mechanisms when individuals are subjected to sustained harassment and defamation.

Digital platforms cannot continue to operate as spaces where reputations, livelihoods and psychological wellbeing can be damaged without consequence.

The laws that protect citizens in physical spaces must also protect them in digital ones.

This petition calls for meaningful reform so that individuals speaking about their lived experiences - particularly survivors, patients and advocates - are protected rather than punished.

Thank you to everyone continuing to support this campaign for accountability, dignity and reform.