# ‘I’ve had rape and death threats, spyware on my phone, been detained in the Middle East and had my children threatened’ – Irish human rights lawyer reveals the rogue nations targeting her to get to her clients…

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ive-had-rape-and-death-threats-spyware-on-my-phone-been-detained-in-the-middle-east-and-had-my-children-threatened-irish-human-rights-lawyer-reveals-the-rogue-nations-targeting-her-to-get-to/
- Published: 2026-10-30T21:53:06+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T22:11:51+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16253277/Ive-rape-death-threats-spyware-phone-detained-Middle-East-children-threatened-Irish-human-rights-lawyer-reveals-rogue-nations-targeting-clients.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Asia, Middle East, World

## Key points

- Gallagher says her legal work has led to threats against her family.
- She links the latest targeting to representing Jimmy Lai.
- She says Irish authorities have supported her security.

## Summary

Irish human rights barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher says threats against her and her family have escalated because of her legal work, particularly her representation of Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai. Her account highlights the personal risks faced by lawyers who challenge governments, and the pressure such intimidation can place on their families.

Gallagher describes attempted hacking linked to cases involving Iran, spyware on her phone, a brief detention while monitoring a trial in the Middle East, and rape and death threats. She says her children have also been threatened and that Chinese state media labelled her an enemy after she worked on Lai’s case. Lai, a British national and founder of Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted under Hong Kong’s national security law.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.