Analysis: The complex GAA Catfish story calls into question the relationship between criminal law and catfishing
By Sophie Doherty, Open University
Driving from Belfast to Achill Island, my cousin, Emma, suggested listening to a podcast series. ‘It’s the GAA Catfish series by The 2 Johnnies,’ she said. For three hours we listened in shock and disbelief at every twist and turn. For the last two hours of the trip, it was the focus of conversation.
In May 2022, The 2 Johnnies, Johnny McMahon (Johnny Smacks) and Johnny O'Brien (Johnny B), published a two-part podcast, The GAA Catfish. Sínann Fetherston provides an overview of the two episodes for RTÉ Lifestyle. In January 2025, part three of the podcast was released, with reports noting that it amassed over two million streams in just four days.
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News of the GAA Catfish story has swept across Ireland and beyond. While the three-part series is complex and entertaining, it also raises awareness of the potential serious harms enabled by social media and calls into question the relationship between criminal law and catfishing. The potential consequences and sheer number of possible victims that may be impacted by catfishing warrants serious inquiry into how criminal justice systems in Ireland respond to cases.
Understanding catfishing
According to legal researchers Renee Lamphere and Kweilin Lucas, 'catfishing is the verb used to describe the actions of a "catfish", a person who creates falsified online profiles on social networking sites with the purpose of fraudulently seducing someone.'
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime, Government TD calls for urgent action over GAA catsfish scam as police investigate
Financial and sexual motivations are briefly raised in the 2 Johnnies' podcast and are perhaps the most immediate things associated with the harms of catfishing, but the emotional and psychological impacts are as important. In part two of the podcast, chartered occupational psychologist Louize Carroll explains that social media can provide a form of anonymity, which lowers the moral compass. In part three, clinical psychologist Malie Coyne explains that there are various reasons behind catfishing including issues with self-esteem, loneliness, fear of healthy relationships, and attachment issues.
The harms of catfishing
While catfishing can be seen to be a laugh or a bit of craic, the 2 Johnnies remind listeners that it can have serious consequences. Dr Coyne explains that victims may be traumatised by the experience, feeling shame and embarrassment. This may prevent people from speaking out about their experiences and this can have negative emotional and psychological impacts.
From RTÉ News, how to protect against catfishing
Catfishing and criminal law in Ireland
A basic function of criminal law is to criminalise harm, but is catfishing a criminal offence in Ireland? In short, the answer is no. In both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, there is no offence of catfishing at present. Although there is a clear demand from victims for criminal justice interventions, there is no specific legal provision in either jurisdiction on catfishing.
However, there is a framework for conceptualising elements of catfishing as criminal offences in Ireland. In part three of the podcast, Dr Coyne links catfishing to coercive control, domestic violence and harassment. In cases where financial loss has occurred, the actions may be enough to meet the requirements of fraud, which is a clearly defined criminal offence. Furthermore, Anna Rowe is campaigning for sexual elements of catfishing to be criminalised in relation to deception and consent.
The lack of a single, identifiable offence is problematic as victims may struggle to navigate the legal landscape. As Senator Lisa Chambers argued during a debate in the Seanad on the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2024, 'it is much easier to explain yourself to the Garda if you can point to a very clear offence for what is exactly happening to you'.
From RTÉ 2's First Dates Ireland, Patrick talks about his encounter with a Canadian catfish
This bill, which had completed Second Stage before the general election in November, is a significant milestone as it proposed an amendment to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 by adding a new offence of catfishing.
Arguably, the terminology of catfishing could also be revisited as it is affiliated, to an extent, with entertainment that in a way may undermine the severity of the act. After all, language matters, as noted in the conceptualisation and reframing of "revenge porn" to 'image based sexual abuse'.
READ: from RTÉ Lifestyle, The 2 Johnnies Podcast: Signs you're being catfished
A positive impact of Johnny B detailing his experiences of the GAA Catfish has been the number of people coming forward to share their experiences, and an increased awareness of the impacts of catfishing. Encouragingly, the 2 Johnnies have said the team have ‘been contacted by Gardaí, politicians and legal professionals all offering help for the victims’, while a probe has been launched by the PSNI.
Ireland awaits developments on criminal law and catfishing. At a minimum, criminal justice systems in both jurisdictions should develop victim-centric and victim-informed approaches to assisting those involved. This includes developing comprehensive guidance on criminal justice interventions across the north and south, complimented by initiatives that collate and effectively communicate existing offences relating to catfishing.
Dr Sophie Doherty is a Lecturer in Law at the Open University and co-founder of OU Law and Humanities Research Cluster.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ. If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, support information is available online.
