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Following a lawsuit against a conspiracy theory newspaper that falsely attributed her son’s death to a Covid vaccine, a bereaved mother and her legal representative have become targets of severe online abuse. The Irish Light, known for spreading vaccine misinformation, inaccurately implicated Edel Campbell’s son, Diego Gilsenan, and others in vaccine-related deaths. This marked the first instance of a relative suing over such a case. Diego, who tragically took his own life and was not vaccinated, was included in the erroneous article.

The backlash against Ms. Campbell after filing her legal action has been distressing, deterring other affected families from seeking similar recourse, according to her solicitor, Ciaran Mulholland. The Irish Light and its editor, Gemma O’Doherty, have launched a campaign of derogatory social media posts and threats. Supporters of the publication have even called for violence against Ms. Campbell’s lawyer. The legal case aims to address harassment and defamation, rather than pursuing retribution or compensation.

In response to the false claims made by the newspaper, Ms. Campbell and her lawyer decided to take legal action against Gemma O’Doherty. The Irish Light had published a front-page photo of Diego and others with the misleading headline “Died Suddenly.” This headline was subsequently used by conspiracy theorists to suggest a link between young people’s unexpected deaths and the Covid-19 vaccine.

Ms. Campbell’s legal pursuit is backed by donations and pro bono work. Despite obtaining a restraining order against the Irish Light editor in July, abusive posts have persisted on social media. The Irish police are investigating the alleged harassment. Gemma O’Doherty and the Irish Light have not responded to inquiries from the BBC.

The case bears resemblance to other instances where conspiracy theorists have targeted victims, such as survivors of the Manchester Arena bombing and parents of Sandy Hook shooting victims. The Irish Light has a history of promoting conspiracy theories, and its unfounded claims have been a source of distress for Ms. Campbell and others who have faced similar unfounded allegations.

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Italian and Paris St-Germain goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and his partner faced a terrifying ordeal when they were attacked and robbed at their residence in Paris. According to police sources, several individuals targeted the couple at their flat in the eighth district of the city, where they were subsequently bound. However, they managed to escape to a nearby hotel after the incident.

The hotel staff was alerted, and the couple was taken to the hospital following the traumatic event. The Paris prosecutor’s office stated that an investigation has been launched, focusing on charges of armed robbery by an organized gang and aggravated violence.

While unconfirmed reports suggest that the attackers made away with valuable items such as jewelry, watches, and luxury leather goods worth around €500,000, the footballer sustained only minor injuries, while his partner, Alessia Elefante, remained unharmed, according to sources from Agence France Presse.

It appears that France’s special police unit for armed robbery and burglaries, known as BRB, has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. Gianluigi Donnarumma, 24, who moved to Paris two years prior, was scheduled to join the Paris St-Germain squad for their upcoming pre-season friendly match against Le Havre and a tour of Japan and South Korea.

Sadly, this is not the first time PSG footballers have been targeted by criminal gangs, though most previous attacks occurred when the players were not at home. For instance, in March 2021, two men were sentenced to jail for robbing the home of Brazil footballer Marquinhos in Yvelines, to the west of Paris. Marquinhos was away playing during the incident, but his father and two teenage daughters were present in the house, with his father suffering some injuries in the assault. Similarly, the home of Marquinhos’s teammate Angel Di Maria was also burgled on the same day.

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