By 
THE mother of a young Douglas Bridge woman who was tragically killed in a car crash on the A5 just over nine years ago said it was an ‘amazing achievement’ to see new legislation in her daughter’s name unanimously backed at Stormont.
Marie O’Brien told the Strabane Chronicle that it was ‘devastating’ for her family when 23-year-old Caoimhe’s name was circulated online in October 2016, shortly after the fatal crash on Victoria Road near Burndennett — before she had the chance to tell her son. ‘Caoimhé’s Law’ will make it a criminal offence to record, share or publish images or videos of victims at the scene of serious road incidents without consent.
Last year, Marie and others who experienced similar trauma formed Road Victim Support Northern Ireland–Donegal and launched the ‘It’s Not Your Story To Tell’ campaign, urging the public to consider how taking and sharing such images retraumatises grieving families.
Marie said she felt mixed emotions as she watched Monday’s debate on ‘Caoimhé’s Law’ from the public gallery at the Northern Ireland Assembly, but expressed deep gratitude as every political party united behind the legislation.
“It was a very emotional day, but an incredibly proud moment to hear all parties come together and back the law,” she said.
“The idea first came about during a conversation on the way to Belfast between myself and other members of the Road Victim Support NI–Donegal group as we prepared to launch It’s Not Your Story To Tell. Now, we are so close to seeing ‘Caoimhé’s Law’ become a reality.”
She continued, “What happened to our family was absolutely devastating – and the same thing has happened to so many families across Northern Ireland.
“It is truly traumatic to race against social media posts so your loved ones hear the news from you, not from an RIP message online.
“It hasn’t just been me. Over the past year, our group has worked tirelessly to get this law to where it is today. For it to be in Caoimhe’s name is an incredible legacy for her and for our family. If this law prevents even one family from going through what we did, then it will all have been worth it.”
Marie added that the group is currently delivering workshops in schools across the North to educate young people about the dangers and consequences of sharing images from collision scenes.
The next step will be meeting ministers and emergency services representatives in the new year to progress ‘Caoimhé’s Law’.
West Tyrone MP Órfhlaith Begley welcomed the ‘unanimous support’ shown in the Assembly.
She said, “No family should learn about the death of a loved one through social media.
“The distress and trauma caused by recording footage at a collision site can have a profound impact on families and adds to the grief they already feel.
“Caoimhé O’Brien’s family have courageously used their experience to highlight the human impact of this issue and to campaign for change. I commend them for their strength, and I hope the Justice Minister will now take this forward. I will continue to support campaigners in this vital work.”
