'A spokesman for UCD said it had launched a full investigation into the alleged behaviour of the students' (stock photo)

University College Dublin is investigating reports that a group of male students are sharing intimate images and information about female students online.

Reports appeared in the student newspaper this week of a private chat on social media that has been used to share images, including explicit images, of young women with whom participants have had sex.

A spokesman for UCD said it had launched a full investigation into the alleged behaviour of the students.

Marcus O'Halloran, president of the Students' Union in UCD, confirmed it was also conducting an investigation.

To date no evidence had been found, but any information that linked UCD students to 'revenge porn' or other privacy breaches would immediately be passed on to gardaí, he said.

Sexual consent classes and social media training for all students were on the cards at the college, according to the students' union.

"We want UCD to take the lead on this," Mr O'Halloran told UCD's 'University Observer' paper.

Irish Independent