Waterford TD Mary Butler says she's been the target of a smear campaign.
The Fianna Fáil deputy, who has been re-elected to the Dáil, says a fake Facebook page has been created which purports to be her.
In a statement released this afternoon, she says this page has been used to 'like' and 'laugh' at certain comments on other pages, with the intention of giving the impression that she's dismissive of victims of child sexual abuse.
Mary Butler says the profile has since disappeared but screenshots of the fake activity are being distributed through social media "in a sophisticated and highly co-ordinated effort".
She says the attack has been devastating for her and her family and she has reported it to Gardaí.
She says she hopes to meet with specialist officers later today.
In the statement, Deputy Butler says she's been subjected to a "sustained and co-ordinated campaign of online hate and harassment" and this has intensified since her re-election.
She says her commitment to and support for victims of sexual abuse has been "unwavering".
