Jackie Fox sprays her daughter Nicole’s bed with her favorite perfume every morning. The ceremony brings back precious memories of Nicole Fox-Fenlon, who died by suicide in January 2018 after years of online bullying.
“She was funny and hilarious,” Jackie said in Gerard Walsh’s documentary Jackie & Coco (RTÉ One, Monday, 9.35pm) about Jackie and her work as an anti-bullying campaigner. I’m reminiscing. “She loved to sing and dance.”
For the past five years, Jackie has worked to honor her daughter’s legacy by pushing for new anti-cyberbullying laws. These regulations, named Coco’s Law after Nicole, are what she hopes will spare other families the terrible fate that befell her. “I had to lose Nicole so that others could benefit,” she said, her voice steely as she fought back tears.
Jackie & Coco is a moving and sensitive film that follows Jackie’s journey from heartbroken mother to fearsome advocate. It also features interviews with former Labor leader Brendan Howlin, who supported her claims, and Justice Minister Helen McEntee, who recalls a deeply emotional meeting with Jackie.
Jackie recalls that her daughter began to suffer severe bullying from the age of 18, with the first incident occurring at a nearby nightclub. This is an upsetting topic, and Mr. Walsh would not have wanted to intrude on his family’s grief. And given the subject matter and Jackie’s passion and courage, there’s clearly a reluctance to be critical. However, viewers may still feel that some parts of the photo are missing. In other words, I don’t think “Jackie and Coco” says enough about Nicole and the circumstances leading up to her death.
This viewer wanted to know more, and this documentary celebrates Nicole as an individual, details the bullying she experienced, and how Coco’s Law saved her. It’s a pity that I didn’t have time to explain it in detail. We’ve probably already learned about Nicole’s experiences with bullying and her death, but together they take up less than 10 minutes of her screen time.
At least we had a satisfying conclusion. Following the enactment of Coco Law in Ireland, Jackie’s campaign against cyberbullying was taken up in the European Parliament, where she spoke.
But there’s also a heartbreaking coda. Jackie accomplished much and worked selflessly to honor his daughter’s memory. But most of their life together is too painful for her to revisit.
“The memories are stuck. I’m not ready to let them out yet. I was thrown into a horrible situation,” he said during a trip to the seaside in Wexford, Nicole’s resting place after her death. she said. “I’ve entered survival mode. I’m focused on surviving. I’m focused on living. I’m focused on the now.”
Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or by email. jo@samaritans.ie or jo@samaritans.org. Pieta House can be contacted toll-free on 1800 247 247.