Protest at UCD: Students rally after explicit image of young woman is circulated
Thousands of students gathered on the campus of University College Dublin this afternoon, calling for changes in how the University responds to reports of sexual violence, after an explicit image of a female student was widely circulated within the university community.
The student, referred to as ‘Maeve’ to protect her identity, said her life was ‘shattered in a second’ when gardaí informed her that the image of her had been sent to 171 UCD staff email accounts.
Maeve has alleged that she was raped in 2023. She said she did not report the incident to gardaí at the time because she feared she would not be believed.
University College Dublin (UCD). Pic: Shutterstock
In a report in today’s Irish Examiner, the student also claimed she received little support from the university in the aftermath.
In the Dáil last week, Ruth Coppinger told the chamber that the student had initiated High Court proceedings after University College Dublin declined a request to allow her to sit examinations in the same academic year.
Ms Coppinger said the student had become pregnant following what she has described as a rape in 2023 and later underwent a termination. As a result, she missed scheduled medical exams.
Ruth Coppinger (Pic: Collins)
According to Ms Coppinger, the student sought permission from UCD to sit the exams during the summer session but was refused and was instead advised to repeat the year.
The TD further claimed that the student has not resumed her medical studies since 2023, alleging that the university had prevented her from progressing.
Separately, it has been stated that in April of last year, images described as showing the student naked and unconscious were circulated to university staff from an anonymous ProtonMail account.
University College Dublin (UCD). Pic: Shutterstock
The student said she became aware of the circulation only after being contacted by gardaí. She said she was informed that measures, including email blocks and filters, would be implemented to prevent further dissemination.
However, the student has said that similar anonymous emails resumed last summer, arriving in her university inbox on several occasions. She reported the matter to gardaí and said she took steps herself to block messages originating from ProtonMail accounts.
This afternoon (Wednesday), thousands of students gathered for a rally, ‘Not in Our UCD’, organised by UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) in partnership with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC).
The students’ union said the rally was ‘not focused on one incident alone, but on what they describe as deeper issues in institutional response from classroom practices to senior decision-making structures.’
