London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Feb 10, 2025

Online abuse: Patricia Devlin calls no prosecution decision 'devastating'

Online abuse: Patricia Devlin calls no prosecution decision 'devastating'

A journalist has described a decision not to prosecute the person accused of sending abusive messages online as "disappointing and devastating".

Patricia Devlin lodged a complaint against the PSNI in 2020 for a failure to properly investigate a threat to rape her baby.

It was upheld by the Police Ombudsman and the case was reinvestigated.

On Monday the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said that there was insufficient evidence to proceed.


'Hugely disappointing'


Ms Devlin, who has written for the Sunday World and other publications, said it was a hugely disappointing decision.

"After I made the complaint to the Police Ombudsman, the PSNI then reinvestigated my original complaint and that individual was eventually questioned, the person they said (the PSNI) they tracked the message to.

"I was told I would have to wait for a decision from the PPS. That took almost a year and a half for a decision to be made.

"Now I have been told that there isn't enough evidence for a prosecution which is absolutely devastating.

"I feel again that I wasn't protected, that my son hasn't been protected."

Ms Devlin said that women in the public eye suffer more abuse than their male counterparts.

On Sunday, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said Twitter needed to "up its game" when it comes to tackling online abuse, after she received "squalid and misogynistic messages".

"The levels of abuse that women are getting online is getting more vicious, more vile and It needs to stop," Ms Devlin said.

"My male colleagues aren't having their children threatened with rape, and nor should they.

"My male colleagues aren't having their appearance criticised, they're not receiving the same vile sexualised comments on Twitter and they're covering the same stories as I am, so gender has a huge part to play."

Ms Devlin said she was not sure she would make a complaint to the police if she was targeted again.

"The question is - is there any point in me making complaints to the police if I receive abuse again even on this scale? Because nothing seems to be done."


'Menacing'


A spokesperson from the PPS confirmed it had received a file in January 2022 from the police in relation to the messages received, and had explored further lines of inquiry.

But, while it found the contents of the messages to be "grossly offence and menacing", the evidence to link the reported person to the message is insufficient.

"After careful consideration, and taking into account all the facts of the case, and the advice of independent counsel, it has been determined that for this reason the evidence was insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction of this individual for any offence," said.

The PPS said it is keen to meet with Ms Devlin if she wishes to discuss the decision and answer any questions.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
"Marrow stupid": Senator John Kennedy Blasts UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Over Chagos Islands Transfer
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Surge Reshapes Electoral Dynamics
Kemi Badenoch Faces Internal Criticism After 100 Days as Tory Leader
Campaigners Urge UK to Apologise for Forced Adoptions
Church of England Upholds Traditional Eucharistic Elements Amid Calls for Alternatives
Rayner Defends Approach at Grenfell Tower Meeting Amid Dismantling Plan
China Implements Tit-for-Tat Tariffs on US Goods Amid Trade Escalation
Italy and Wales Set for Six Nations Clash at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico
Ministry of Justice Apologises Over Prisoner Early Release Letter Error
Rare First Edition Harry Potter Book Sells for Over Twenty-One Thousand Pounds
Drax Power Station Under Scrutiny for Incomplete Wood Sourcing Reporting
UK Government Reaffirms Pledge to Build 1.5 Million New Homes by 2029
Freed Israeli Hostage Learns of Family's Death After Release from Gaza
French President Macron Employs Deepfake Technology to Advocate for AI Summit
Trump Names Musk to Investigate Government Fraud Amidst Controversy
Police Stop Ed Sheeran's Street Performance in Bengaluru
FBI Alerts Smartphone Users About Toll Scam Threat
Australian Educator Declares Identity as a Cat, Sparking Parental Backlash
Kremlin Addresses Claims of Trump-Putin Phone Conversation in Light of Ukraine Crisis
Trump Connects with Putin to Address the Ukraine Crisis
Super Bowl Ad Prices Soar to Record Highs Amid Streaming Surge
China Achieves 2030 Solar Energy Targets Early, Cuts Subsidies for Renewable Energy
Trump Signs Executive Order Prioritizing White South African Refugees
Europe Faces Growing Security Concerns and Trump's New Demands on Ukraine
Trump Revokes Security Clearances of Biden Officials, Including Blinken and Sullivan
Justin Bieber Sparks Concern as New Footage Raises Health Fears
European Right-Wing Leaders Celebrate Trump’s Impact on Global Politics
Trump Administration Directs Admiral to Leave Official Residence Within Three Hours
British Health Secretary Andrew Gavin Fired Over Controversial Messages
Report: Iran Attempted to Assassinate Trump During Election Campaign
Trump Declares He Won't Deport Prince Harry, 'He's Already Dealing with Enough Issues with His Wife,' He Comments.
Macron's AI Vision Encounters Hindrance in the Global Technology Competition.
TikTok Sued Over Alleged Child Deaths Caused by 'Blackout Challenge'
Governments Prohibit DeepSeek AI Due to National Security Issues
Russian musician Vadim Stroykin passes away following an apparent fall during a police raid.
Zelensky Suggests Mineral Collaboration with Trump for Security Assistance
Naomi Campbell Claims Unawareness of Financial Irregularities at Fashion for Relief.
House Republican Introduces Bill Aimed at Limiting AI Exports to China
Trump Signs Executive Order Prohibiting Transgender Athletes from Competing in Women's Sports
Intense Pressure Builds for a Free Trade Agreement Between the UK and GCC in Light of Economic Difficulties
UAE Aids in the Transfer of 300 Prisoners Between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump Suggests U.S. 'Takeover' of Gaza, Sparking Global Worries
At least ten fatalities reported in Swedish school shooting, authorities confirm.
EU Reveals Significant Advances on Special Tribunal for Prosecuting Vladimir Putin
Trump Administration Preparing Executive Order to Abolish the Department of Education
Trump's Gaza Plan Provokes Global Debate
Spain Endorses Initiative to Cut Working Week to 37.5 Hours
Australia Prohibits DeepSeek AI on Government Devices Due to Security Issues
Trump Warns of Tariffs on EU Products, Labels Bloc an 'Atrocity' in Trade Matters
Zelenskyy Proposes Nuclear Arsenal if NATO Membership Lingers.
×