A UCD student claims that after reporting harassment and stalking by another student to UCD, she has waited months without resolution.
A UCD student who alleges that she has been stalked by another student has claimed that since reporting the alleged stalking behaviour in July 2025, she has faced repeated delays, redirections between offices, and long stretches without communication, despite obtaining a civil restraining order against the individual in September. Speaking to the University Observer, the student commented that navigating the University’s response system has become, “like a full-time job.”
The student claims that after briefly dating a fellow UCD student in 2024, she ended the relationship due to “controlling and manipulative behaviour,” and requested no further contact. In the following months, he proceeded to attempt to contact her incessantly through her UCD email, her personal email, and by phone. The student claims that she had received over one hundred messages and calls from her alleged stalker, and did not engage in any contact with the individual.
After a period of months, the student claims that the individual began to engage in stalking behaviour on-campus, at college-related events, and outside of college. The student alleges that the individual would arrive at her lectures, wait at her bus stop, and show up at her home, where she was living with a family with young children. In one instance, the individual repeatedly bought tickets to a college-related event that the student had organised with her classmates. Each ticket was refunded, yet the ticket-selling platform was unable to block further purchases due to the individual using IP-blocking software. On the day of the event, the individual attempted to gain access, and had to be removed by security personnel and the student’s classmates. The event took place hours outside of Dublin, meaning the individual had to travel a significant distance to attend.
The student believes that she will hear the outcome of the investigation in late November - four months after intially reporting her experience to UCD in July 2025.
UCD’s Bullying and Harassment policy specifically lists, “intrusion - pestering, spying or stalking,” as an example of bullying behaviour with cause for formal investigation. UCD’s Sexual Misconduct policy also notes, “stalking behaviours whether online or offline,” as behaviour associated with sexual misconduct with cause for formal investigation. The Bullying and Harassment policy further states, “[UCD] recognise that bullying and harassment – in either a learning or work environment – can cause not only personal distress, but also a loss of confidence, low morale and illness . . . You have the right to disclose experiences of unacceptable behaviour while studying or working, to be listened to, to seek support and to have the issue resolved. We encourage you to come forward to seek support and assistance in resolving any issues of bullying or harassment, and to explore informal and formal options available for resolution . . . We will ensure that, in all cases, reports are carefully and thoughtfully addressed through a process that is transparent and clearly communicated to all individuals involved in line with personal data requirements.” The Sexual Misconduct policy echoes similar sentiments. Citing this policy, the student commented to the University Observer that she feels the University "failed to protect [her] safety in a timely manner and did not take appropriate action."
In July 2025, the student contacted UCD regarding the alleged harassment. She was firstly referred to a student advisor, who then referred her to the Dignity and Respect Support Service. During the same period, the student had contacted An Garda Síochána, who advised her to get a restraining order against her alleged stalker. She was told that the earliest she could be granted a restraining order would be in early September, which she accepted. The student claims that when she informed her designated Dignity and Respect advisor of her plans to pursue a restraining order, they informed her that Dignity and Respect would have to wait to pursue the report further until after the student received a decision on her restraining order.
In early September, the student was granted a multiple-year long restraining order against the individual by the Dublin Circuit Civil Court. It is worthwhile to note that a civil restraining order does not constitute a criminal conviction, as it is a protective measure granted on the balance of probabilities rather than the criminal standard of proof. On the same day as receiving the restraining order, the student contacted Dignity and Respect to inform them of the result. The student claims that the Dignity and Respect advisor assigned to her case said that they, “had never encountered this situation before,” and referred the student’s case to a superior within Dignity and Respect. After a week without receiving any further communication, the student sent a follow-up email. From this, she was informed that the superior had contacted the UCD Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team (EDI) for advice on her case, and was awaiting a response. The student then requested a meeting with both Dignity and Respect and EDI, for information about the process and who would be working with her throughout it. After waiting another week for EDI to respond, the student once again sent a follow-up email. From this email, a member of the EDI team responded and requested that the student attach a copy of her restraining order to the email. The student sent an email to ask if there was a specific point of contact who she should send the document to, as she felt uncomfortable sending confidential documentation to the generic EDI email address. After receiving no response, the student sent an encrypted version of her restraining order to the EDI email address.
The student claims that a week after sending her restraining order to the EDI team, she was informed that because the restraining order was “civil rather than criminal,” they could not “bypass” an internal investigation to take disciplinary action against the student. The student claims she was advised to resubmit her complaint to the Dignity and Respect service, The student further claims that she was told this investigation could take three to six months. She was informed of this in October, three months after initially reporting the alleged harassment to UCD.
The student states that the process of “repeated redirection,” and "bureaucratic delay,” has caused her to “relive trauma through endless reporting cycles.”
In late October, EDI recommended that the student contact UCD Student Engagement, Complaints, Conduct, and Appeals (SECCA) “to get further information on other student policies that may be open to [her].” The student then contacted a senior EDI authority to arrange a meeting. At this meeting, the student claims that she had to retell her experience “in painful detail”. The student further claims that she was informed by the senior EDI staff member that as the behaviour she had reported could constitute a breach of the Student Code of Conduct, the EDI team could make a direct referral to the Dean of Students under the Student Conduct process.
The student further claims that a member of staff informed her that if she chose to pursue the Student Conduct process, the resolution would likely be quicker than the Dignity and Respect process, but her personal involvement would be limited to her initial statement.
After submitting a report through the Student Conduct process in late October, based on the standard SECCA procedure timeline, the student believes that she will hear the outcome of the investigation in late November - four months after initially reporting the situation to UCD in July 2025.
The student states that the process of “repeated redirection,” and "bureaucratic delay,” has caused her to “relive trauma through endless reporting cycles.”
UCD has agreed to provide the student with security for her conferring ceremony.
The Speak Out National Report recently reported that, over a two year period (2022-2024), less than one in eight third-level students who have anonymously disclosed experiences of bullying, assault or sexual violence felt comfortable making a formal report to their Higher Education Institution (HEI). 12% of students who disclosed to Speak Out made a formal complaint to their HEI about the abuse. 4% of students who disclosed to Speak Out made a formal complaint to An Garda Síochána about the abuse. According to the Speak Out report, one of the common reasons for students not reporting incidents to their HEI is “fear that nothing would be done”.
The Speak Out National Report recently reported that, over a two year period, less than one in eight third-level students who have anonymously disclosed experiences of bullying, assault or sexual violence felt comfortable making a formal report to their Higher Education Institution (HEI).
Speak Out is an online anonymous reporting platform available in 17 HEI across the country. According to Speak Out, it is “a mechanism for members of college communities to speak out about their experiences of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, discrimination, hate crime, coercive behaviour/control, stalking, assault, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape, and to help direct those speaking out to find supports relevant to their experiences.” The Speak Out National Report was published on 4 November 2025, and utilises data from 16 HEIs who availed of the Speak Out platform across the period of 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2024. UCD currently uses Report and Support as its anonymous reporting tool, launched prior to Speak Out; however, data from UCD’s Report and Support tool was also utilised in the Speak Out National Report.
In a comment to the University Observer, UCD stated:
“The University does not comment on individual cases as this may compromise the integrity of our internal processes.”
“However, we acknowledge that, under certain circumstances, and in particular where an independent investigation is required, the time taken to conclude our internal processes can give rise to additional concern and worry for the persons involved. The Dignity and Respect Service and Student Advisory Service are in place to support those involved in such difficult cases.”
“The safety, well-being and security of our community on campus is paramount. In general terms, there are multiple services in place to ensure the safety and security of our community on campus, including: a dedicated 24-hour emergency phone line to report suspicious behaviour and request immediate assistance; a Walk Safe Service, which provides walking attendants for individuals travelling from one campus location to another; 24-hour security personnel; and CCTV at locations throughout the campus. Other specific measures are put in place to support individual members of our community where required.”