The Facts
Edel Campbell and her lawyer have allegedly faced abuse online, after they sued The Irish Light newspaper for falsely claiming Diego Gilesenan — Campbell’s son — died as a result of a COVID vaccination.
The 18-year-old Gilesenan, who had not been vaccinated against the virus, reportedly died by suicide in August 2021.
The Spin
Narrative A
The spread of health misinformation increases the risk of real-world disease and must be stopped. Nonsensical claims about vaccines are running rampant on the internet, and there must be a price for those who contribute to the proliferation of these dangerous rumors, especially when they put medical professionals and innocent civilians at risk.
Narrative B
Questioning the efficacy of vaccines, the nature of their side effects, and the ethics of mandates isn’t vaccine denial or misinformation. Government scientists aren’t releasing all the relevant data and are teaming up with social media platforms to silence those questioning their authority and expertise. Individuals have a right to make health decisions with the full knowledge of the facts, not just what the government is willing to reveal.
