Limerick influencer 'working with a solicitor' as fallout of Tattle Life court ruling intensifies
Niamh de Brún-Reid, Sinead O'Brien and Maeve Dennehy speak out on Tattle Life trial
A LIMERICK influencer has confirmed she is actively exploring the possibility of taking legal action against the website, Tattle Life, after years of "people are being named, defamed and harassed”.
The High Court in Belfast ruled, last week, on a landmark legal battle where a Northern Ireland couple succeeded in their quest to expose Tattle Life's operator, Sebastian Bond. They were awarded €352,000 in libel damages after a four year-long legal battle.
Now, Limerick native, Niamh de Brún-Reid has revealed that she too is set to take legal action against the website.
Niamh told Limerick Live that the court ruling in the Tattle Life case “sets a strong precedent for the future that you can be identified and held accountable, the internet is not an anonymous space”.
“I believe in the power of open discussion and freedom of speech but people are being named, defamed and harassed on these sites,” she outlined.
“I am actively working with my solicitor," Niamh confirmed.
“I am willing to refrain from exposing the anonymous users as my primary goal is accountability.”
Maeve Dennehy, who runs Love Cherish in Charleville, referenced the court ruling on her Instagram account, offering a “huge well done to the couple who prosecuted”.
“I’m very happy with my life and who I am as a person so I never gave it time. But I do feel relief that those behind it have finally been found out,” said the businesswoman.
Sinead O'Brien, known online as Sinéad Curvy Style, heralded the court decision as a “great day for anyone mentioned on the site”.
“I was first made aware of the site around six years ago, and there must have been 100’s of threads about me. But now I don’t look at it in order to protect my mental health,” explained the Patrickswell woman, who runs Vacious luxurious shapewear for women.
“I hope it does get shut down and I think that all the anonymous users are getting nervous that more legal cases are going to be taken, I think the trolls online are now scared they will be unmasked.”
“It’s not the last we will see of the legal side of it”, said Sinead.