Mum shares horrific bullying that made daughter, 21, too scared to leave house before she killed herself
Cruel bullies taunted Nicole Fox online for hours every day - even spreading lies and flicking cigarettes at her and pushing her to the floor on nights out
A DEVASTATED mother has spoken of the horrific bullying she says her daughter endured before taking her own life.
Nicole Fox, from Clondalkin, Dublin, received vile taunts on a messenger group she was a member of online and was scared to leave the house before she killed herself, her mother Jackie has said.
Nicole showed her mum the messages, but the 21-year-old did not complain to police for fear of retaliation - and the abuse continued as Jackie was forced to watch her once fun-loving daughter lose confidence.
Determined to not let them win, Nicole - affectionately known as Coco – went out with friends on nights out, but her tormentors flicked cigarettes at her and pushed her to the floor, her mum has said.
Finally, unable to take any more, Nicole ended her life in January this year.
Jackie is now sharing her daughter’s story in the hope of cracking down on cyberbullying and is urging parents to step in and help, if they suspect their child is a victim.
She said: “I wish there was a law allowing parents access to their children’s social media so they could check if they’re concerned. Especially when not everyone feels brave enough to speak up.
“More needs to be done so that bullies in real life and online can’t get away with this.”
Jackie described her daughter as a ‘happy normal girl who loved hanging out with family and friends’, who enjoyed walking on the beach with her dog Bruce, the cinema and shopping.
But when Nicole was 18 she started receiving upsetting messages through an online messenger group she was a member of, and showed them to her mum.
Jackie said: “I could only assume the people sending the messages were jealous. Nicole was gorgeous and got a lot of attention from boys they knew.
“She was devastated but she didn’t reply, she didn’t want to show them they’d got to her.
“She received messages for hours a day sometimes,” Jackie explained. “She didn’t understand why anyone would be cruel and I didn’t know why they’d targeted her.”
When Nicole was still receiving the messages months on, Jackie went to the police for help, but because Nicole was an adult, her mum was told she would have to make a complaint herself for them to take action.
But Nicole wouldn't complain, as her mother says: “She didn’t want them thinking she was a grass."
But the messages threatened to kill her and a picture was posted suggesting that she was sleeping around.
In May 2016 Nicole took an overdose of pills and was rushed to Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, where she spent four days – an episode that Jackie imagined was her ‘worst nightmare’.
However, after Nicole was discharged, her bullies discovered what she had done and rather than stop, they continued to harass her.
Nicole was adamant that she wanted to put on a brave face though so she continued to go out in town – though her mum says her bullies flicked cigarette butts at her, knocked over her drink and pushed her over.
Jackie said: “She sounds strong, but she had panic attacks and stomach cramps, and felt sick before leaving the house.
“At her worst she was too scared to walk to the corner shop alone and I was anxious she might try to take her life again – though she insisted she wouldn’t. She said she didn’t want to hurt me.”
But on 18 January this year Jackie found her daughter barely breathing and dialled 999.
Nicole was taken to Tallaght Hospital and put on life support, while doctors told her family she had brain damage and over the next two days relatives visited to say goodbye, while her mum begged her to get better.
“I held her and kissed her and told her I loved her and she could go now, she was safe. I’m grateful for those final days with her.”
Nicole was 21 when she died, and her family and friends packed out Newlands Cross Crematorium in Tallaght, celebrating her life by playing her favourite Chris Brown songs and showing her photos on a big screen.
“Now all I’m left with are memories,” Jackie said. “Her texts, always saying ‘I love you’ with a heart on. "But nothing will replace her.”
She explained how she had hoped to unlock her daughter’s phone with her fingerprint to show police the messages but a password had been needed - which she didn’t have.
And the group the messages had come from has since been taken down.
Now Jackie is sharing Nicole’s story to ‘save a life’.
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She said: “Nicole felt able to show me the messages but I worry that not all young people in her situation could. They need to know that it’s not their fault if they’re bullied, and it’s OK to tell someone.
"I wish police could act the moment they’re aware of a case, rather than waiting for the victim to make a complaint – as they may be too afraid or it might become too late for them.
“I hope Nicole’s story helps others. I don’t want her death to be in vain.”
Jackie is hoping to raise money to treat her sons – who are working to come to terms with their sister’s death