RTE documentary explores the dark and dangerous world of Ireland's incels

The dark online world of “incel” culture in Ireland is explored in a radio documentary today.

Invisible Men, Ireland’s Incels – or involuntary celibates – airs on RTE Radio One and looks at the phenomenon of the young men who have chosen to be part of this hidden group.

It reveals how they go online to primarily communicate anonymously with each other and often share violent videos with women at the centre of the vile content.

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This toxic subculture hit the headlines in 2014 when a self-professed incel Elliot Rodger murdered six people and wounded 14 others in a mass shooting in the United States.

Since then there have been several violent attacks by men related to the incel movement.

The documentary also features candid interviews with Irish members of the group, along with insights from a prominent female journalist who has faced threats of violence.

One man named Paul, who is in his 30s, talks about how he tried to date when he was younger but never managed to progress to a romantic relationship.

He revealed the extent of his sexual experiences are a few drunken kisses at parties. When he came into contact with incel forums online 10 years ago, he found what he believed to be an answer to the situation that he was in.

Spurred on by the posts, Paul concluded he was not good looking enough to be attractive to women.

Speaking in the documentary, he said: “I think there is still a lot of cultural stuff around being an adult male and a virgin, it’s a source of shame.

“You are not a real man.

“I would admit it’s a source of shame. None of my friends would really know about that.”

A journalist, who gave her name as Emma, also spoke about the terrifying threats she has received online from incel men.

She said: “Someone threatened to skin me alive. Someone threatened to kill me with a pitch fork.

“I have seen Reddit threads with thousands of men discussing how much they hate me.

“I looked at it for four seconds and I can still remember everything I saw, it was horrendous.

“Someone said they knew where I lived, and even though I knew they were probably lying, what if they do know.

“They targeted me because I was a young, attractive woman.”

The documentary’s producer Alan Bradley said a lot of people don’t realise how many men are in such groups

He added: “In Ireland, incels are generally young men who feel rejected by women, which can lead to significant frustration.

“This group has developed its own unique vocabulary and a distorted world view, online. They often share hateful and violent content, including calls for the legalisation of rape and disturbing videos of abuse, which are presented under the guise of ‘gallows humour’.”

Alan said the men are not just misogynistic, but often exhibit their own intense self-hatred and suicidal thoughts:

He added: “What we found disturbing, in creating the documentary, is many of the young men we spoke to expressed suicidal feelings, they express a mix of anger towards women and profound inner despair.

“What’s quite incredible is they come from all walks of life, they are not just socially isolated men.

“For many it’s a secret they have never confessed to anyone.

“They hold down jobs, have a network of people around them yet still feel disconnected to the real world and drawn into the comfort the incel community grants.

“They are men we all know but don’t suspect, they are our brothers, uncles, kids, work colleagues, team-mates”.

Invisible Men – Ireland’s Incels, is on RTE Radio One, today at 2pm.

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