Thousands of Irish women have had sexual images leaked online without their consent in recent days.
It's after the images, some of underage girls, were shared on private online forums.
A lot of these images would have been obtained from apps and websites such as Snapchat, Tinder and OnlyFans for a number of weeks.
It's understood thousands of women are involved, with an online protest set to take place next week.
CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Noeline Blackwell, says the leak is shocking.
"They constitute sexual abuse that they were shared in the online group in the first place," she said.
"With the hacking of that online group there is now a concern that the sharing or that the transfer of these images is going to be much more widespread."
The reports have reached the top level of the Gardai, with the Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime carrying out enquiries into the matter.
it’s MY instagram story and i’ll go OFF if i want to ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/8zeDyzLHzr
— minister for alternative lifestyles (@mizzdoublek) November 18, 2020
There are concerns for the women who have yet to find out that their images are part of the leak.
Noeline Blackwell says help will be available through their helpline 1800 778 888, which is available twenty-four seven.
After they've been in touch with the centre, Ms Blackwell recommends contacting the Gardai.
A petition calling for revenge porn laws set up a number of months ago has been widely circulated since the incident.
It now has close to 27,000 signatures.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald says legislation to address this issue should be passed.
"This is a profound violation of women and girls rights and demonstrates again the inadequacy of the Irish law in protecting them against such abuse."
