Charlene Flanagan: I was anxious, scared and vulnerable until I realised trolls serve no purpose in my life

Charlene Flanagan, co-founder of Irish skincare brand Ella and Jo, tells Helen O’Callaghan about discovering an online group of trolls who were criticising and tearing her down

Charlene Flanagan, co-founder of Irish skincare brand Ella and Jo: 'It was my first time reading negative things about who I was as a person. It floored me. I suffered really strong anxious feelings, even going outside.'

The trolling started about four years ago. I found out through people who, in a very kind way, messaged me about it on Instagram, letting me know certain things were being said about my appearance, my parenting, about how I showed up in the world.

It was people who lived in the locality because my movements were tracked. They knew when I was picking my kids up from creche. I rarely post things in real time, for security reasons.